Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Asgarov, all over the world the road is considered the safest and most reliable type of transport. The history of development of steel highways has deep roots. What stage of development have the Azerbaijani railroads reached so far? 

Arif Asgarov, Chairman, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC: Independent Azerbaijan ranks with high developed states of the world, enjoys full rights as the member of the world community, takes an active part in implementation of international and regional projects. All of it is the result of fight that Nationwide Leader Heydar Aliyev waged for many years. 

Just like in other areas, large-scale projects are also being implemented in the transport sector along with accelerated integration into the international community. As one of branches of the national transport system, steel highways of Azerbaijan are now at the cutting-edge of rapid development. These grandiose results were achieved owing to daily attention the country leadership pays to the operation of railways.

The period of Nationwide Leader Heydar Aliyev’s presidency in the country, from 1969 to 2003, can be unequivocally considered as a period of the overall and technical development of the Azerbaijani railway. For the first time the push to fundamental development and drastic changes within the railway system and other sectors of the domestic economy was fixed in 1969 after Heydar Aliyev’s coming to power. 

The Azerbaijani railways were regularly supplied with modern imported cars, mechanisms and equipment during his leadership in the republic through 1969-1982 and also during his work for the management of the former USSR in 1983-1987. Thanks to Heydar Aliyev’s direct involvement in 1970-1987 a large number of specialists were sent to receive education abroad and many of them are nowadays holding managerial positions. All the mentioned is not just a short chronology. These are conditions defining strategic development of the large system. The history has proved that each step of the national leader served to perspective strategic development of the country.

A program on development of our railway is currently being implemented including projects aimed at reconstruction of our railroad system, purchase of new carriages and electric locomotives. The relevant instructions were given by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. 

CE: What could you say about the present rate of development of the Azerbaijani railway?

Arif Asgarov: Accelerated development of the transport infrastructure and modernization processes are now performed even more intensively under the leadership of Ilham Aliyev. Involvement of our country in implementation of international and regional transport corridors such as Baku-Tbilisi-Kars and North-South serves a good proof to this. 

“The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is a historic event. I am sure that this railway will be opened next year”, President of Azerbaijan  Ilham Aliyev said in Bodrum on June 5 while addressing the Fourth Summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking States (CCTS). Thus, a new Iron Silk Road will be revived. The implementation of this project will certainly provide additional benefits. The construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the increase of trade and the transportation of existing and new cargo along this road will enhance our economic interests and, at the same time, enrich our work with concrete activities. 

The cooperation in the energy sphere is also successful. Today, Azerbaijan provides transportation of petroleum products and oil from the eastern coast of the Caspian Sea to the West, thus playing a transit role. After the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, this role will be increased even more. 

In general, the country leadership took important decisions and signed relevant executive orders to boost a perspective development of the railways as a component of the transport system of Azerbaijan. 

On July 20, 2009 President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the executive order on creation of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC in order to raise Azerbaijan railways’ level to conformity with the international standards. This measure actually became a new starting point for further development. On February 15, 2010 the Government of Azerbaijan approved the charter and structure of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, thus accelerating work in that direction. In this way a new process of reforms aimed at improvement and restructuring of railways, in particular at modernization of infrastructure of the railway and rolling stock was commenced. 

As a logic continuation of these operations, on July 6, 2010 President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the order, approving the State Program on Development of Railway Transport System of Azerbaijan for 2010-2014. This order became the most important document in the history of railways development. The program covered all major aspects ensuring future prompt development of Azerbaijan’s railways. According to the state program, steps are being taken for upgrading the car fleet and locomotive stock, overhauling railways, power supply, signaling and communication facilities, shifting from alternating to direct current along the Baku-Boyuk-Kasik route, modernizing technical devices as well as fulfilling other important tasks. The state program mainly focuses on increasing the transit potential and the level of services in the railway transport, ensuring fruitful operation of the transport complex via reducing transportation costs in passenger traffic. 

CE: The capital repair of the railroad in the direction of Baku-Boyuk Kesik has been completed in recent years. Which other projects have been implemented by Azerbaijan Railways CJSC? 

Arif Asgarov: Successful fulfillment of the state program on development of the railway transport system of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2010-2014 is underway successfully. Capital repair of a 317km long road in the direction of Baku-Beyuk Kesik which had already been fully replaced with 800m long rails was completed on December 10, 2013.

Apart from this, a 1.9km long line is currently under construction on the 73rd km of the Salakhly-Poylu railway section. This under construction line will run along the second bridge across the Kur River built in 2014. The new section will extend from the Poylu station toward the 73rd km of the Salakhly-Poylu railway section. In general, these operations will enable to increase the volume of cargo transportation along the Baku-Beyuk Kasik railroad. 

According to the agreement signed between VEST QAS enterprise and Azerbaijan Railways CJSC in February 2009, 5 cars of Express train were sent to Sazvzuduki plant of the Slovak Republic for an overhaul repair. Repaired cars were returned to the republic on October 28, 2011. Service life of these cars comprises 28 years. In other words, they can be operated till 2039 at the speed 160km/h. President of Azerbaijan visited a passenger station of Baku on November 24, 2011 and checked 5 passenger cars which had underwent overhaul renovation in Slovakia. 

Operations on reconstruction of power supply, signaling and communication systems are at the stage of commencement. Acquisition of new different purpose locomotives and cars is also on the agenda.   

Corresponding procedural work is continued for purchase of 50 new cargo alternating-current locomotives within the framework of the World Bank project that envisages switch of traction system of Baku-Boyuk Kesik section to alternating voltage (25kV). 

In general, a number of activities are planned to be carried out in the country with the purpose to reconstruct the car fleet. Repair of operating cars is currently being performed. Thus, 60 passenger cars have been recently sent to Dnepropetrovsk (Ukraine) and 16 to the city of Voronej (the Russian Federation) for repair. After completion of renovation they were brought back to the republic and put into operation on Baku-Tbilisi and Baku-Moscow lines.    

Among completed operations noteworthy are construction of the second new bridge across the Kur River and the branch railway line passing over the bridge on the 73rd km of the Saloglu-Poylu section as well as reconstruction of the reinforced-concrete bridge over the Valvalachay River on the 2,508th km of the Charkhy-Shirvan section and the metal bridge over the Araz River on the 98th kilometer of the Saatly-Bedzhar section. 

New maintenance machines GSM09-32, RM – 80 and UPS – 2000 were purchased from Austria in order to secure maintenance and repair of the railroads. The construction of a hangar was accomplished in the Bilajari workshop to maintain their operation on the proper level. 

Within the framework of the State Program, the works on reconstruction of water-pumping and sewerage systems in the territory of the Bilajar station launched early in 2012 are at stage of completion. Production and transportation of long size rails (800m) at the rail welding train #24 have been commenced in Salyan since February 22, 2012. The second production line and the plant bunker of the Gyzyldzha Gyrmadash Plant came on stream on July 4, 2012. 

It is noteworthy that a non-cash payment has been carried out, when buying passage tickets, since March 2012 by means POS-terminals installed at ticket-counters of the Baku passenger station. Safe running of trains and growth of the speed of the railroad trains will be secured as the result of introduction of measures envisaged in the State program. 

CE: Which other goals and tasks are still to be addressed for further development of the railroad?

Arif Asgarov: Fulfilling the order of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan to prepare the Concept of development “Azerbaijan 2020: future outlooks”, Capital construction and technical control LLC fulfilled a number of important operations on implementation of projects, arising from the State Programme, and development of the feasibility study and technical documentation as well as preparation of the railway development concept until 2020. 

A 10-day inspection of the railroad condition was performed in April. Inspected was the condition of the railroad facilities and buildings as well as safe running of trains, environmental protection and safety standards at stations, institutions and organizations. 

Other important projects aimed at improving the country’s transportation system including the railway and organization of the passenger transportation in compliance with international standards are being implemented as well. 

As part of this policy, the construction and major overhaul of railway stations in accordance with modern standards were launched not only in Baku but also in the regions. As part of a visit to Agdash District, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the opening ceremony of a new railway station building in Laki on May 01. Resuming the abovementioned, I would like to note that the railway employees will keep gaining higher achievements in future, applying all potential capabilities for successful implementation of tasks we are assigned by the state and the government as well as justify the trust vested to them by practical work.