Caspian Energy (CE): Mr. Asgarov, which tasks is Azerbaijan Railways CJSC facing now? 

Arif Asgarov, Chairman, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC: Upgrading of the transport infrastructure has been intensively progressing for the past 5 years. Azerbaijan is an active participant of such international and regional transportation corridors as “Baku-Tbilisi-Kars” and “North-South”. 

To bring the level of Azerbaijani railways to conformity with international standards President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on June 20, 2009 signed an order about creation of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, which indeed served as a new impulse to the development. 

On February 15, 2010 the government of Azerbaijan approved the Charter and the structure of the Azerbaijan Railways CJSC. The work in this direction was accelerated. In this way, a new process of reforms aimed at improvement and restructuring of the railroad, particularly at modernization of railway infrastructure and rolling stock was started. 

As the logical continuation of this work, on July 6, 2010 President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed an order approving the State Program on development of railway transportation system of Azerbaijan for 2010-2014. This order became the weightiest document in the history of development of railways. The program reflects all basic aspects securing future rapid development of railways of Azerbaijan. According to the State Program, the measures are undertaken to replace the carriage and locomotive stock, overhaul roads, power supply, alarm and communication devices, transform alternating into continuous current in the direction of Baku-Beyuk Kasik, modernize technical facilities and fulfill other important tasks.  The major goal of the state program is to raise the transit potential, service quality in railway transportation, secure fruitful operation of the transportation industry by reducing transportation costs in passenger traffic. 

The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway scheduled to be launched in the coming year is a historical event for Azerbaijan and the whole region. In this way, a new Silk Road will be revived. The implementation of this project is going to provide an additional benefit. Construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, growth of the trade turnover, transportation of additional and available cargoes along this road will increase our economic interests and in the meantime enrich our work with concrete measures. 

Successful energy cooperation is carried out through the railroad as well. Nowadays, Azerbaijan is transporting oil products, oil from the eastern Caspian coast to the West, i.e. playing a transit role. This role will be growing more after the commissioning of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railroad. 

CE: What kind of success has been gained in fulfilling major provisions of the State Program on development of the railway transportation system of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2010-2014? 

Arif Asgarov: Successful realization of the state program on development of the railway transportation system of the Republic of Azerbaijan for 2010-2014 is currently underway. Overhauling of the 317km long Baku-Beyuk Kesik road which has already been replaced with 800m long rails was completed on December 10, 2013. 

The second bridge built across the Kur River on the 73rd km of the Poylu-Salakhly railway was commissioned on July 26, 2014. 

I would like to note that a new 1900m long railroad was laid on the 73rd km of the Poylu-Salakhly section, crossing over the Kur River, due to the construction of the second railway bridge. The road was laid starting from the Poylu station up to the 73rd km of the Poylu-Salakhly line including a section across the new bridge. 

The structures of the infrastructural department and Demiryolservis MMC of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC carried out overhauling operations. 

Construction of the second railway across the Kur River on the 73rd km of the Poylu-Salakhly section was needed for meeting the growing volume of cargo transportation on Baku-Beyuk Kesik section as well as for timely and safe delivery of cargoes to the points of destination. 

The construction of the bridge was commenced in 2008 and completed in 2014. The total length of the bridge makes 208.44m. 

The importance of this bridge is that it will make a single-line railway on this section into a double line and thereby provide safe running of trains. The construction of the second bridge increased efficiency and competitiveness of the Baku-Boyuk Kesik railway. 

According to the agreement signed between VEST QAS 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 returned to the republic on October 28, 2011. Service life of these cars makes 28 years. In other words, they can be operated till 2039 at the speed 160km/h. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev 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 running parallel to it. Acquisition of new locomotives and different purpose cars is 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 renovation had been completed they were brought back to the republic and put into operation on Baku-Tbilisi and Baku-Moscow lines.    

In general, among completed operations noteworthy are 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 work, launched early in 2012, on reconstruction of water-pumping and sewerage systems in the territory of Bilajari station is 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 introduced for 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 measures envisaged in the State program. 

As is known, container shipping is a part of international transportation. Attraction of container cargoes to international East-West transportation corridor will positively impact development of our transport system and raise its competitiveness. For this purpose, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and Georgian Railways JSC started negotiations on resuming of Baku-Poti container train’s running which was stopped in 1996. As the result of negotiations, the running of the Baku-Poti train was resumed. The first train loaded with 25 containers arrived at Keshla station on July 17, 2014. 

Apparently, safe running of trains along with the growth of the speed will be ensured as the result of conduction of operations envisaged in the State Program. Solemn ceremony of commissioning of the new administrative building and repair workshop of the Emergency Situations Train LLC of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC has been recently held for improving and eliminating consequences of accidents. 

CE: Could you please tell about the plans on the railway development for the future?

Arif Asgarov: In line with the Decree of the Head of State of Azerbaijan on elaboration of the ‘Azerbaijan 2020: Look into the Future” Concept of Development, Capital Construction & Technical Control LLC has performed a number of important works to implement projects associated with the State Programme, preparation of a feasibility study and technical work as well as preparation of a concept on railway development until 2020. 

The 10-day inspection of the condition of the railway was implemented in April. As a part of the campaign, the inspection included checking the condition of the railroad facilities and buildings, train safety control, environmental protection and technical safety rules at stations, agencies and organisations. 

Other important projects are also in process to improve the domestic transportation system, including the railroad, bringing passenger transportation to the level of international standards. As a part of this policy, the construction and major overhaul of train stations has been commenced not only in Baku, but also in regions, on the level of up-to-date standards. On May 1 President Ilham Aliyev attended the official opening of a new train station building in Laki during his visit to the Aghdash region. 

In conclusion, I would like to assure that the railway personnel will multiply the achieved successes in the future, use all potential possibilities for successful achievement of objectives set up for us by the state and the government and justify trust put in them in practical deeds.