The overall technical development of the Azerbaijan Railways is closely associated with the periods of the leadership of National Leader Heydar Aliyev during 1969-2003. In those years 14,300 methods of technological innovation, covering all areas of the railway, were introduced alongside performance of the main activity. Thanks to direct participation of Heydar Aliyev, during 1970-1987 a large number of specialists were sent to study abroad and many of them now serve at a senior management level.
Currently the railways of Azerbaijan as one of the branches of the country’s transportation system are at the stage of their rapid development.
At present the Socio-Economic Development Strategy implemented by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev is contributing to the targeted growth of dynamism and mobilisation of the full potential of the society and strengthening the power of the national heritage. In this regard, the forced development of the transport infrastructure and modernisation processes are progressing at even a faster pace, it is once again proved by Azerbaijan’s involvement in the implementation of international and regional transport corridors such as Baku-Tbilisi-Kars and North-South.
In general, the country’s leadership has made important decisions and signed the relevant decrees to ensure the future development of the railway as a part of the transportation system of Azerbaijan.
President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev signed the Decree on July 6, 2010 to approve the State Program on Development of the Railway Transport System of Azerbaijan for 2010-2014, which became the most significant document in the history of railways development. The program reflects and covers all key aspects to ensure a future rapid development of the railways in Azerbaijan.
Modernising the system
A number of activities have been carried out within the framework of the State Program. In particular, reconstruction of the railway car fleet is underway; repair works are performed at the operated cars (90 passenger cars were returned to the republic after a repair and operated on Baku-Tbilisi, Baku-Moscow, Baku-Kharkov, Baku-Agstafa-Gazah and Baku-Balakan lines); capital repair of a 370km long section of Baku-Boyuk Kasik railroad, which has been replaced with 800m long rails, is completed; the work on reconstruction of power supply, signaling and communication facilities to be commenced soon (acquisition of new locomotives and different purpose rail cars are on the agenda).
Apart from this, corresponding procedures on acquisition of 50 new cargo locomotives, operating with alternating current, are ongoing within the framework of the World Bank’s project on transition of the traction system of Baku-Boyuk Kasik section to alternating current (25kV). Power facilities are being renewed in all directions.
Among performed operations noteworthy is the commissioning of the new (second) bridge over the Kura River and the branch railway line crossing along the bridge on the 73rd km of Saloglu-Poylu section. Reconstruction of the reinforced bridge over the Valvalachay River (Charkhy-Sarvan section) and steel bridge over the Araz River (Saatly-Bedjar section) has been fulfilled as well.
According to the Action Plan of the State Programme, manufacturing and delivery of long rails (800 metres) by means of the rail-welding train #24 was launched in Salyan in February 2012. The second production line and the batch box of the Gyzyldzha Gyrmadash Factory were commissioned in July 2012.
At the same time, the management team of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC is keenly focused on overhaul repair of main tracks. So, a major overhaul of the 63-km main tracks at the passenger-carrying Baku-Khyrdalan-Sabunchu railway section was started on March 3, 2015. After modernisation the residents of the capital will be able to reach the Sumgait station by electric trains just in 40 minutes.
International projects
Implementation of one of the major construction projects of the XXI century, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which is to bring together not only the three nations, but many other countries, is progressing at a fast pace. Currently, in Turkey the works on construction of a tunnel between Georgia and Turkey have been completed, while works in Georgia are still underway. It should be noted that the start of movement of first trains via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars is scheduled for the end of this year.
The successful policy, reforms carried out in Azerbaijan as well as the ongoing large-scale infrastructure projects have contributed to accelerated prosperity of the country and created favorable conditions for improving its socio-economic life. As a result, the flow of foreigners willing to visit the republic increased.
It caused a necessity to renovate and modernise the Baku Railroad Terminal. After all, this building is the gateway to the capital. These works have been launched lately. The facade will be modernised without changing the architectural style. After repair booking offices, luggage storage facilities and passenger concourses will feature a modern design. Escalators inside the building will be replaced with new ones.
The overarching goal of numerous meetings held recently with representatives of railroad administrations of the CIS and non-CIS countries is to revive the domestic railways. For example, not long ago Azerbaijan Railways CJSC held meetings with the delegations of Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (Railways) JSC and Dzerzhinsky Open Joint Stock Company Research and Production Corporation Uralvagonzavod. The capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent, hosted a trilateral meeting of the chiefs of the railway administrations of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan and Georgia. Recently Azerbaijan Railways CJSC hosted a meeting with the delegation of the Asian Development Bank. Moreover, mutual cooperation in the field of development of railways was high on the agenda at the meeting held in Moscow, the capital of the Russian Federation, between the chiefs of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC and Russian Railways JSC.
As a result of talks with Dzerzhinsky Open Joint Stock Company Research and Production Corporation Uralvagonzavod, the corporation started delivery of 2,900 cars for Azerbaijan Railways Closed Joint-Stock Company.
Currently, 250 new freight railway cars have been already delivered to the country for Azerbaijani Railways. Of this, 150 are on the share of open-top wagons, 50 are large-capacity flat cars carrying containers and 50 are tank cars.
