Azerbaijan, Georgia Approve Completion of BTK Railway Modernization

By Ilham Karimli May 19, 2026

The 826-kilometer-long BTK line, launched in 2017 to connect Azerbaijani and Georgian railway networks with Turkish railway system, offers a quicker and more accessible rail link between China, Central Asia, and Europe. / Azerbaijan Railways

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On May 18, President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev met with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze to discuss bilateral cooperation and regional connectivity projects.

The discussions resulted in the signing of the protocol of the 41st meeting of the Coordination Council on the rehabilitation, reconstruction, and construction of the railway section from Marabda to the Türkiye border at Kartsakhi within the framework of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway project.

The document also formalized the transfer of the relevant railway infrastructure to the joint venture BTKI Railways – a joint venture established by subsidiaries of ADY and Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway LLC – for the management and operational oversight of the railway line. This joint venture was founded in August 2024 to oversee operations, strengthen regional transport connectivity, and improve coordination along the railway line.

Moreover, in a Joint Communique, Azerbaijan and Georgia agreed to restore passenger train services on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route, which has been suspended since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020.

The 826-kilometer-long BTK line, launched in 2017 to connect Azerbaijani and Georgian railway networks with Turkish railway system, offers a quicker and more accessible rail link between China, Central Asia, and Europe. Running from Baku through Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, to Kars in northeast Türkiye, it significantly reduces the overland journey between China and Europe to just 15 days, compared to the previous 25-45 days.

In 2024, Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) carried out extensive modernization work on the 184-kilometer section of BTK crossing Georgia. The five-stage project included upgrades to 13 railway stations, 55 bridges, eight traction substations, 320 buildings, and multiple engineering structures such as overpasses and crossings.

The completion of the USD 250 million modernization project expanded the railroad’s overall throughput capacity from 1 million to 5 million tons, with plans to further increase it to 17 million tons in the future.

Significant modernization work was also completed on the Azerbaijani section of the railway. ADY carried out major repairs along the Baku–Boyuk Kesik line and upgraded the energy supply system. Last year, an alternating current power system was introduced on the Boyuk Kesik–Hajigabul section, while signaling and telecommunications systems were fully modernized. The new infrastructure is expected to reduce energy losses, optimize operational costs, simplify maintenance, and increase train speeds.

ADY’s digitalization strategy is also contributing to the competitiveness of the corridor. The company recently launched its “Cargo Tracking” platform, allowing real-time monitoring of container shipments along the East-West route and improving transparency, operational flexibility, and shipment forecasting.

With its expanded infrastructure and growing international partnerships, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway is emerging not only as a transit route for cargo movement but also as a strategic platform through which Azerbaijan seeks to manage, direct, and add value to regional trade flows between Asia and Europe.

In January-November 2025, ADY transported more than 17 million tons of cargo, of which 46.2 percent consisted of transit goods.