Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Capacity Boosted to 5 Million Tons, Strengthening Middle Corridor

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway has significantly boosted its annual freight capacity to 5 million tons following recent reconstruction, marking a substantial improvement in its operational capabilities. The official opening ceremony for the upgraded railway took place on June 2 at Akhalkalaki railway station in Georgia, attended by Kazakh Deputy Minister of Transport Zhanbiek Taizhanov and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

This enhancement positions the BTK railway as a crucial component of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), commonly known as the Middle Corridor. The route connects the rail networks of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Türkiye, facilitating more efficient freight transport from Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea, to Türkiye and onward to Europe.

The modernization works, which were carried out between May 2023 and May 2024, have dramatically increased the railway's capacity from its previous 1 million tons per year. The 827-kilometer-long railway has been in test operation since 2017, but the recent upgrades are expected to substantially strengthen Kazakhstan's transit potential.

Officials anticipate that the increased capacity will lead to greater international cargo flows and improved logistics efficiency throughout Eurasia. The project underscores the growing importance of the Middle Corridor as a vital link in global trade and transportation networks.