Date of official opening of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway announced

The Baku—Tbilisi—Kars railway will be officially put into operation on June 2.

Georgian media report this, citing the country's State Procurement Agency.

It is noted that high-ranking officials from the participating countries are expected to attend the presentation, which will take place on June 2 at the Akhaltsikhe international station.

The document notes that the Baku—Tbilisi—Kars project has important national and international significance. As part of it, stations, bridges, terminals, tunnels, and substations were built, and up to 235 km of new railway tracks were laid. The infrastructure meets modern standards and is viewed as part of a strategic transport corridor implemented jointly by Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey.

The Baku—Tbilisi—Kars railway has been operating in test mode since 2017. On May 19, 2026, during Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze's visit to Baku, a document was signed on its official commissioning. The project's assets will be managed by the participating countries' joint company, BTKI Railways.

The railway's annual capacity is about 5 million tons, but according to recent data, less than 10% of this capacity is being used.

As part of the project, 98 km of new line were built, of which 68 km run through Turkey and 30 km through Georgia. A 183-kilometer section of the Akhaltsikhe—Tbilisi railway was also reconstructed. The total length of the route is 827 km.

Construction of the Georgian section was financed by a $775 million loan from Azerbaijan, which is to be repaid from project revenues. The work was carried out by Azerbaijani contractors.

The project was initially focused on transit of goods from China and Central Asia to Turkey and Europe. However, on May 24, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that Armenia also plans to join the use of the route to develop rail links with Turkey.

Source: Business media