Georgia is experiencing one of its most significant transport upgrades in years, with a railway modernization program that is set to make travel faster, more reliable, and more comfortable across the country.
One of the most noticeable changes in 2026 will be on the Tbilisi–Batumi route, a key connection between the capital and the Black Sea coast. Once rehabilitation works are completed, currently expected by August 2026, journey times are expected to fall from around 5.5 hours to roughly 4 hours. The improvement comes as part of an effort to modernize the national rail system led by Georgian Railway, including upgraded tracks, improved signaling, and newer trains designed to handle higher speeds and the ever greater passenger demand.
The government is also preparing a major expansion of rolling stock and infrastructure over the 2026–2028 period. Plans include purchasing dozens of new locomotives, more than a thousand passenger and freight carriages, and introducing new train sets alongside modern safety and control systems. Officials say the upgrades could eventually double the system’s capacity, with annual passenger numbers projected to rise from about 2 million to 5 million. Much of that growth is expected to come from both domestic travel and increased tourism, especially along popular coastal and mountain routes.
Beyond the main corridor, attention is also turning to regional connectivity. The long-suspended Tbilisi–Akhaltsikhe railway, inactive since 2009, is planned to be restored, cutting travel times in half from around six hours to three. This would significantly improve access to the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, which has long faced slower transport links to the capital and the resulting impact on tourism flows.
New routes are also part of the plan, including a direct Tbilisi–Kutaisi connection that would link two of Georgia’s most important urban centers more efficiently.
At the same time, the government is investing in heritage and tourism-focused railways. One of the most symbolic projects is the full rehabilitation of the Borjomi–Bakuriani line, known locally as the “Kukushka” (Cuckoo). This narrow-gauge railway, which has been idle since 2020, is to return with restored infrastructure, upgraded trains, and renovated stations along its scenic mountain route. Its revival is expected not only to restore a historic piece of infrastructure, but also to strengthen tourism in one of Georgia’s most visited regions.
For passengers, 2026 promises shorter journeys and more reliable services, while, for the country as a whole, it positions rail travel as a stronger backbone of both domestic mobility and international connectivity, especially as Georgia continues to develop itself as a transit corridor between Europe and Asia.
By Team GT
