Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

The Baku-Nakhchivan railway service will operate in three years after the signing of the loan agreement for the construction of the section of the Rasht-Astara railway.

Heads of Azerbaijan Railways Javid Gurbanov told local television channel that preparatory work is underway to sign this loan agreement.

“After the train starts to run along this route, it can be said that the [railway] blockade of Nakhchivan will be lifted. Given the average speed of 60 km per hour, a trip from Nakhchivan to Baku may take 28-30 hours,” he said.

The head of railways noted that, this will allow increase the tourist flow to Nakhchivan as well as to simplify cargo transportation.

“Nakhchivan has a great potential, as from there it is possible to deliver various products by railways, be it mineral water or travertine. I know, in particular, that Belarus is interested in the supply of travertine. Since such deliveries by air or by car are impossible, the railways will be the best solution to this issue,” he said.

The Resht-Astara section is part of the Kazvin-Resht-Astara (Iran) - Astara (Azerbaijan) railway, one of the fragments of the North-South transport corridor, which will connect Northern Europe with South-East Asia, thus combining the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia.

The North-South transportation corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe to South-East Asia.

Gurbanov also spoke of the expansion of the country’s railway routes covering the Baku-Pirshagi-Sumgayit-Balajari-Baku, aiming to partially release the capital from traffic jams.

Repair of the Baku Ring Road will finish by the end of this year.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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