Poland joins TCITR project
By Nigar Abbasova
Poland’s rail operator PKP that manages the infrastructure of the LHS line (the longest broad gauge railway line at the territory of Poland) has become a member of the Coordination Committee of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TCITR).
The Polish company became the member in accordance with the decision, which was taken unanimously during the meeting of the project's Coordination Committee in Astana.
The meeting, organized by Kazakhstan Railways mainly focused on the creation of a union of legal entities of the Coordination Committee, approval of the charter of the legal entities’ union, its registration in the state structures.
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route runs through China, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Georgia and then through Turkey and Ukraine to Europe.
The agreement to create the Trans-Caspian International Transportation Consortium was signed in April in Baku by the railway authorities of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan.
Azerbaijani companies ADY Express and ACSC Logistics, Kazakhstan's KTZ Express and Georgia's Trans Caucasus Terminals LLC are the members of the consortium .
The project enjoys an opportunity to become one of the most attractive and profitable for consignors from European countries, while approximately 300,000-400,000 containers are expected to be transported via the Trans-Caspian international transport route by 2020, bringing huge financial profits to Azerbaijan.
New competitive tariffs have been introduced for the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route since June 1, 2016, putting the route among the cheapest and most profitable corridors for freight traffic.
The first test container train from China arrived at the Baku International Sea Trade Port on August 3, 2015.
Azerbaijan, which is located in the center of the route, is keen to create more favorable conditions to increase the importance of the route, while growing global interest in the transport projects passing through Azerbaijan's territory is expected to allow the country to succeed in its bid to turn into a major transport hub in the region.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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