New Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway link to bridge Central Asia, China and Europe

BAKU. July 3. KAZINFORM Construction of a new railroad artery directly connecting Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) will bridge the railway systems of Azerbaijan, Turkey and Georgia and ease transportation of cargoes from China and Central Asia to Europe.

It has been stated by Turkish Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Binali Yildirim at the first meeting of the transport ministers of the Cooperation Council of the Turkic Speaking Countries in Baku today.

"This project is of paramount importance not only for our countries, but also for transportation of cargoes from Asia to Europe," B. Yildirim said of the rail link.

The construction of a new 105-kilometers branch railway line is planned within the BTK project. In addition, Akhalkalaki-Marabda-Tbilisi section of the railroad is to be reconstructed in order to enhance its capacity up to 15 million tons of cargoes per year.

It is expected that 30 million tons of cargoes will be carried over annually via the BTK railway with a direct access to the European rail network.

The project is scheduled for completion by 2014.