BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 2. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars
line is no longer an alternative, but the main route, Rovshan
Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, told reporters,
Trend reports.


He added that following the modernization of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line, freight transport
capabilities have significantly expanded, and the project has
entered a new phase.


According to him, the BTK line has already gone beyond the scope
of traditional transport links and has become one of Eurasia’s
strategic logistics arteries.


“Today, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is not just an alternative
route. It is a vital piece of infrastructure that transforms
Azerbaijan’s geographical location into a real economic and
strategic advantage, serving as a key structural element of the
Middle Corridor,” Rustamov said.


The chairman noted that the modernization of the project has
increased the railway’s annual freight capacity from 1 million tons
to 5 million tons. This enables faster and more efficient east-west
freight transport.


Furthermore, Rustamov stated that the importance of the
Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) pipeline lies in the fact that it not only
expands Azerbaijan’s transit capabilities but also transforms the
country into a regional logistics hub.







“Thanks to this line, our logistics capabilities are no longer
limited to the Caspian Sea and Georgian ports. We now have direct
access to the European rail network via Türkiye. As a result of the
integration of rail and sea transport, Azerbaijan has transitioned
from being a traditional transit country to a regional logistics
hub,” he emphasized.


As part of the modernization, large-scale reconstruction work
was carried out on a 184-kilometer section located in Georgia. As
part of the project, 13 railway stations and approximately 200
buildings and engineering structures were modernized, 61 kilometers
of new railway tracks were laid, and the energy and road
infrastructure were upgraded.


On May 18, 2026, the final act on the transfer of the BTK
project was signed with the participation of the leaders of
Azerbaijan and Georgia, and at the same time, the joint venture BTK
Railways LLC began operations.


According to Rustamov, the upgraded BTK will further enhance the
competitiveness of the Middle Corridor as one of the shortest and
most flexible land routes connecting China and Central Asia with
Europe.


“The documents signed with the Chinese side place particular
emphasis on the broader use of the BTK for the development of
freight transport along the Middle Corridor, and this process has
already entered the practical stage,” he added.