The border crossing in Azerbaijan–Georgia railway transportation is being accelerated twofold.
This information was provided to Modern.az by Azerbaijan Railways" CJSC (ADY).
It was stated that for this purpose, a meeting was held at Boyuk-Kesik station with the participation of senior officials from the railway administrations of Azerbaijan and Georgia, as well as relevant state bodies:
"The meeting discussed the expansion of cooperation in the railway sector and increasing the efficiency of international freight and passenger transportation. The process of freight train crossing at the Azerbaijan–Georgia border, factors causing time loss, and possibilities for reducing border crossing time were reviewed. The parties also exchanged views on strengthening regional transport links and increasing the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor."
It was noted that one of the main topics was the expansion of digital solutions and electronic data exchange: "The possibilities of real-time electronic exchange of information about trains and cargo between ADY and Georgian Railways were discussed in detail, the expansion of integration between the information systems of relevant state bodies, including customs offices, was reviewed, and relevant decisions were made."
The meeting also discussed preparatory work for organizing an additional route on the Baku–Tbilisi line. To increase passenger comfort, the importance of simplifying border and customs procedures and carrying out control processes more flexibly and within a defined timeframe was noted.
A separate working meeting was also held to increase the efficiency of freight transportation between Azerbaijan and Georgia and strengthen the transit capabilities of the Middle Corridor. At the meeting, a decision was made to organize the continuous operation of ADY's electric locomotives on the Boyuk Kesik–Tbilisi–Boyuk Kesik route without separating train compositions.
The parties emphasized the importance of implementing a new approach to eliminate the duplication of technical inspection procedures for wagons. According to the new approach, wagon inspections, previously carried out at both Boyuk Kesik and Gardabani stations, will now be conducted only at Boyuk Kesik station for the Azerbaijan–Georgia direction, and at Tbilisi junction station for the Georgia–Azerbaijan direction. This optimization will allow for a more flexible organization of border crossing and reduce the transit time of freight trains by 2 times. Flexible freight operations on the route have already been successfully tested.
"This innovation will enable railway cooperation between Azerbaijan and Georgia to enter a new stage, increase the competitiveness of freight transportation along the Middle Corridor, and reduce transit time. At the same time, it will contribute to a more sustainable operation of the international logistics chain, the attachment of additional wagons to passenger trains, and more flexible operations when organizing new routes," ADY stated.
ADY continues its activities in renewing railway infrastructure, optimizing transportation processes, and implementing digital solutions in cooperation with international partners. The goal is to further strengthen Azerbaijan's position as one of the region's leading transport and logistics centers.
In recent years, ADY has implemented large-scale infrastructure projects in the direction of Boyuk Kesik. As a result of the work carried out, the throughput capacity of the border crossing point has been significantly increased, the railway infrastructure has been updated to meet modern requirements, and the capabilities for receiving and dispatching trains have been expanded.
The implementation of digital management systems in the area has also increased the reliability of international transit transportation. These investments make a significant contribution to strengthening the transit potential of the Middle Corridor and the transport and logistics capabilities of the region.
