Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway
Encyclopedia
The Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway, or Kars-Akhalkalaki-Tbilisi-Baku railway, is a regional rail link project to directly connect Turkey
, Georgia
and Azerbaijan
. The project was originally to be completed by 2010 but is now scheduled for completion by 2012.
By 1899, a branch line (Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway) from Tbilisi to Marabda
to Gyumri
(then Alexandropol) to Kars
was completed.
In 1986, the construction of a 160 kilometres (99.4 mi) branch railway line from Marabda
(on the Tbilisi-Gyumri line, 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) south of Tbilisi Junction) west to Akhalkalaki
was completed. However, this branch fell into disuse later on.
and Turkey
through Georgia
was first discussed in July 1993, after the Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway, which goes through Armenia
, was closed. The new railway link is intended to provide an alternative route to the existing Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway line, which has been out of use since 1993, when Turkey closed its border with Armenia
to support Azerbaijan
in its conflict with Armenia following the Nagorno-Karabakh War
. A multi-lateral accord to build the link was signed by the three countries in January 2005.. Because of a lack of funding at this time, this project was more or less abandoned. However, during the inauguration of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline on May 2005, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, of Georgia and of Turkey evoked once again the possibility of building a railroad between their three countries.
For the construction of the railroad on Georgian territory, Azerbaijan is providing a US$220 million loan to Georgia, repayable in 25 years, with an annual interest rate of only 1%. A concessional loan agreement for this financing has already been signed between a Georgian state-owned company Marabda-Karsi Railroad LLC and Azerbaijan. As of September 2007, the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan
has allocated the first US$50 million installment of this loan. The European Union
and the United States
declined to assist in the financing or promoting of the line because they saw it as designed to bypass Armenia, supporting instead the reopening of the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railroad. Armenia used its strong lobbies in Washington
like ARMENPAC or the Armenia National Committee in America to pressure the US Congress on the funding of the railroad.
In February 2007 in Tbilisi, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey signed a trilateral agreement to launch the construction of the railroad the same year. On November 21, 2007, the presidents of Azerbaijan - Ilham Aliyev
, Georgia - Mikheil Saakashvili
, and Turkey - Abdullah Gül
inaugurated the construction of the railroad at a groundbreaking ceremony at the Marabda
junction south of Tbilisi, and the first rails in Turkey began to be laid in July 2008 from Kars.
The Russian-Georgian-Ossetian conflict (2008 South Ossetia war
) and environmental problems delayed the project, which was originally to be completed by 2010, but is now scheduled for completion by 2012.
. Armenia occupies about 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory and this made it impossible for Azerbaijan to cooperation with neighboring Armenia.
According to Samuel Lussac BTK "will contribute to further regional cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey" but it will also "constitute a new stage in the further marginalization of Armenia within the South Caucasus" The president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev
in 2005 reportedly declared "If we succeed with this project, the Armenians will end in complete isolation, which would create an additional problem for their already bleak future."
and Akhalkalaki
, with 76 kilometres (47.2 mi) within Turkey and 29 kilometres (18 mi) in Georgia. The existing railway line from Akhalkalaki to Marabda and on to Tbilisi
and Baku
will be modernized.
Its total length will be 826 kilometres (513.3 mi) and it will be able to transport 1 million passengers and 6.5 million tons of freight at the first stage. This capacity will then reach 3 million passengers and over 15 million tons of freight.
of , and the existing rail lines (from Akhalkalaki east) will continue using it. The new tracks (both the Georgian section from Akhakalaki to the border station Kartsakhi 41°14′22"N 43°15′46"E and the Turkish section) will be on standard gauge
used by Turkey. The line will therefore feature a break-of-gauge
near Akhalkalaki
, which would require building a facility there for bogie exchange
and/or cargo reloading.
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
. The project was originally to be completed by 2010 but is now scheduled for completion by 2012.
Pre-existing railways
The Tbilisi-Baku railway was completed in 1883, and has since remained the backbone of Transcaucasia's railway network.By 1899, a branch line (Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway) from Tbilisi to Marabda
Marabda
Marabda is a town in Georgia, located some 23 km south of the capital Tbilisi, and a few kilometers north of Marneuli.- Transport :Marabda is served by a Georgian Railway station on the Tbilisi–Gyumri line, 23 km south of Tbilisi Junction...
to Gyumri
Gyumri
Gyumri is the capital and largest city of the Shirak Province in northwest Armenia. It is located about 120 km from the capital Yerevan, and, with a population of 168,918 , is the second-largest city in Armenia.The name of the city has been changed many times in history...
(then Alexandropol) to Kars
Kars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
was completed.
In 1986, the construction of a 160 kilometres (99.4 mi) branch railway line from Marabda
Marabda
Marabda is a town in Georgia, located some 23 km south of the capital Tbilisi, and a few kilometers north of Marneuli.- Transport :Marabda is served by a Georgian Railway station on the Tbilisi–Gyumri line, 23 km south of Tbilisi Junction...
(on the Tbilisi-Gyumri line, 23 kilometres (14.3 mi) south of Tbilisi Junction) west to Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki is a small city in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti with a population of 60,975. Akhalkalaki lies on the edge of the Javakheti Volcanic Plateau. The city is located about 30 km from the border with Turkey. 90 percent of the city's population are ethnic Armenians...
was completed. However, this branch fell into disuse later on.
History of the Project
The project of a railroad between AzerbaijanAzerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
through Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
was first discussed in July 1993, after the Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway, which goes through Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
, was closed. The new railway link is intended to provide an alternative route to the existing Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway line, which has been out of use since 1993, when Turkey closed its border with Armenia
Armenian Railway
The Armenian Railways are the national rail operator in Armenia. The , gauge network is electrified at 3 kV DC.The operating environment has deteriorated since the collapse of the Soviet Union...
to support Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...
in its conflict with Armenia following the Nagorno-Karabakh War
Nagorno-Karabakh War
The Nagorno-Karabakh War was an armed conflict that took place from February 1988 to May 1994, in the small enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh in southwestern Azerbaijan, between the majority ethnic Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh backed by the Republic of Armenia, and the Republic of Azerbaijan...
. A multi-lateral accord to build the link was signed by the three countries in January 2005.. Because of a lack of funding at this time, this project was more or less abandoned. However, during the inauguration of the Baku–Tbilisi–Ceyhan pipeline on May 2005, the Presidents of Azerbaijan, of Georgia and of Turkey evoked once again the possibility of building a railroad between their three countries.
For the construction of the railroad on Georgian territory, Azerbaijan is providing a US$220 million loan to Georgia, repayable in 25 years, with an annual interest rate of only 1%. A concessional loan agreement for this financing has already been signed between a Georgian state-owned company Marabda-Karsi Railroad LLC and Azerbaijan. As of September 2007, the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan
State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan
The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan is the state-owned fund managing financial assets generated by oil and natural exploration and development in Azerbaijan. It's located on Neftchiler Avenue in Baku.-Overview:...
has allocated the first US$50 million installment of this loan. The European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
declined to assist in the financing or promoting of the line because they saw it as designed to bypass Armenia, supporting instead the reopening of the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railroad. Armenia used its strong lobbies in Washington
Armenian American lobby
The Armenian American lobby is a term used to describe the loose coalition of groups and individuals who influence United States foreign policy in support of Armenia and its policies....
like ARMENPAC or the Armenia National Committee in America to pressure the US Congress on the funding of the railroad.
In February 2007 in Tbilisi, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey signed a trilateral agreement to launch the construction of the railroad the same year. On November 21, 2007, the presidents of Azerbaijan - Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
, Georgia - Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili
Mikheil Saakashvili is a Georgian politician, the third and current President of Georgia and leader of the United National Movement Party.Involved in the national politics since 1995, Saakashvili became president on 25 January 2004 after President Eduard Shevardnadze resigned in a November 2003...
, and Turkey - Abdullah Gül
Abdullah Gül
Dr. Abdullah Gül, GCB is the 11th and current President of the Republic of Turkey, serving in that office since 28 August 2007. He previously served for four months as Prime Minister from 2002-03, and as Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2003-07....
inaugurated the construction of the railroad at a groundbreaking ceremony at the Marabda
Marabda
Marabda is a town in Georgia, located some 23 km south of the capital Tbilisi, and a few kilometers north of Marneuli.- Transport :Marabda is served by a Georgian Railway station on the Tbilisi–Gyumri line, 23 km south of Tbilisi Junction...
junction south of Tbilisi, and the first rails in Turkey began to be laid in July 2008 from Kars.
The Russian-Georgian-Ossetian conflict (2008 South Ossetia war
2008 South Ossetia war
The 2008 South Ossetia War or Russo-Georgian War was an armed conflict in August 2008 between Georgia on one side, and Russia and separatist governments of South Ossetia and Abkhazia on the other....
) and environmental problems delayed the project, which was originally to be completed by 2010, but is now scheduled for completion by 2012.
Objectives and political issues
The key objective of the project is to improve economic relations between the three countries and gaining foreign direct investment by connecting Europe and Asia.. However, some commentators in Armenia have viewed this new route as an attempt by Azerbaijan to bypass and isolate Armenia from regional economic projects. However, the route through Armenia was politically impossible due to the unresolved war between Armenia and Azerbaijan over the status of Nagorno-KarabakhNagorno-Karabakh
Nagorno-Karabakh is a landlocked region in the South Caucasus, lying between Lower Karabakh and Zangezur and covering the southeastern range of the Lesser Caucasus mountains...
. Armenia occupies about 20 percent of Azerbaijani territory and this made it impossible for Azerbaijan to cooperation with neighboring Armenia.
According to Samuel Lussac BTK "will contribute to further regional cooperation between Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey" but it will also "constitute a new stage in the further marginalization of Armenia within the South Caucasus" The president of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Aliyev
Ilham Heydar oglu Aliyev is the President of Azerbaijan since 2003. He also functions as the Chairman of the New Azerbaijan Party and the head of the National Olympic Committee...
in 2005 reportedly declared "If we succeed with this project, the Armenians will end in complete isolation, which would create an additional problem for their already bleak future."
Route
In total 105 kilometres (65.2 mi) of new line will be built between KarsKars
Kars is a city in northeast Turkey and the capital of Kars Province. The population of the city is 73,826 as of 2010.-Etymology:As Chorzene, the town appears in Roman historiography as part of ancient Armenia...
and Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki is a small city in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti with a population of 60,975. Akhalkalaki lies on the edge of the Javakheti Volcanic Plateau. The city is located about 30 km from the border with Turkey. 90 percent of the city's population are ethnic Armenians...
, with 76 kilometres (47.2 mi) within Turkey and 29 kilometres (18 mi) in Georgia. The existing railway line from Akhalkalaki to Marabda and on to Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
and Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
will be modernized.
Its total length will be 826 kilometres (513.3 mi) and it will be able to transport 1 million passengers and 6.5 million tons of freight at the first stage. This capacity will then reach 3 million passengers and over 15 million tons of freight.
Gauge
Georgia and Azerbaijan both use the broad gaugeRussian gauge
In railway terminology, Russian gauge refers to railway track with a gauge between 1,520 mm and . In a narrow sense as defined by Russian Railways it refers to gauge....
of , and the existing rail lines (from Akhalkalaki east) will continue using it. The new tracks (both the Georgian section from Akhakalaki to the border station Kartsakhi 41°14′22"N 43°15′46"E and the Turkish section) will be on standard gauge
Standard gauge
The standard gauge is a widely-used track gauge . Approximately 60% of the world's existing railway lines are built to this gauge...
used by Turkey. The line will therefore feature a break-of-gauge
Break-of-gauge
With railways, a break-of-gauge occurs where a line of one gauge meets a line of a different gauge. Trains and rolling stock cannot run through without some form of conversion between gauges, and freight and passengers must otherwise be transloaded...
near Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki
Akhalkalaki is a small city in Georgia's southern region of Samtskhe-Javakheti with a population of 60,975. Akhalkalaki lies on the edge of the Javakheti Volcanic Plateau. The city is located about 30 km from the border with Turkey. 90 percent of the city's population are ethnic Armenians...
, which would require building a facility there for bogie exchange
Bogie exchange
Bogie exchange is a system for operating railway wagons on two or more gauges to overcome difference in the track gauge. To perform a bogie exchange, a car is converted from one gauge to another by removing the chassis containing the wheels and axles of the car, and installing a new chassis with...
and/or cargo reloading.