First pilot train to run via Baku-Tbilisi-Kars late 2014
By Jamila Babayeva
The first pilot train will run via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway at the end of 2014, Azerbaijani Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov said at the third Caspian Forum in Istanbul on December 5.
"Realization of the project, which is the logical result of the cooperation Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey, continues dynamically. After the commencement of the Marmaray project, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars will provide direct transport between Europe and Asia," Mammadov said.
The third Caspian Forum brought together the senior officials, representatives of companies and leading experts from 30-35 countries.
The forum will focus on projects in the sphere of energy, transport, finance in the Caspian Sea region and study opportunities for future cooperation.
Mammadov said the construction of the new international sea trade port is underway in Alat town of Azerbaijan.
"A large logistic center will be built in the territory of the sea trade port. Upon completion of the first phase, transportation capability of the facility will be 10 million tons of cargo and 50,000 large volume containers per year. At subsequent stages, the capacity can increase to 25 million tons of dry cargo and one million tons of containers."
The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway is a regional rail link project to directly connect Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey.
Azerbaijan allocated a loan worth $775 million for the construction of the Georgian section of the railway. This project is being financed by the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan after the Azerbaijani presidential decree on the 'Implementation of measures within the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project', dated February 21, 2007.
The project will be of international importance, delivering goods from Asia to Europe.