Azernews.Az

By Gulgiz Dadashova

High-speed trains will soon run across the territory of Azerbaijan, after a 90-kilometer railway line is constructed for the purpose in the Absheron Peninsula, which encompasses the capital Baku and its surrounding districts.

The rail line will start at the Bilajari railway station and stretch to the settlements of Rasulzade, 8-km, Sabunchu, Surakhani, Bina, Mardakan, Mashtaga, Zabrat, Novkhani and Pirshagi.

This innovation will be introduced as part of the Baku Regional Development Plan, jointly implemented by the Azerbaijani government and the World Bank.

The project is intended to improve connections between cities and use more capacity on existing and increasingly congested rail lines.

Benefits of high-speed railway

The use of high-speed trains promises environmental, economic and transportation benefits. Choosing rail travel over driving a car will decrease traffic jams on the roads and reduce air pollution that causes global warming and harms public health, as well as allow people to save time spent on the roads.

High-speed trains are preferable for several reasons such as price, accessibility, frequency, total time of travel, etc. They ensure fast travel and are a reliable means of transport, which works irrespective of weather conditions.

The trains are more comfortable than planes, buses or an average car in terms of space, noise, light, etc. Furthermore, high-speed trains are the safest means of transport that also gives you more freedom, as during your trip, you can go anywhere and any time you want -- to the restaurant or just for a walk; seatbelts are not necessary and the use of electronic devices is not limited.

The construction of high-speed rail lines will reduce the Absheron Peninsula's reliance on auto transport and also help to eliminate the need for new projected highways.

The new train stations will bring jobs, people and business back to Baku's suburbs, as improved rail services can provide a significant boost to travel and tourism by facilitating trips.

Baku Regional Development Plan

Azerbaijan and the World Bank signed a credit agreement in 2007 for the preparation of the Baku Regional Development Plan that envisions future development of the city with its 11 surrounding areas, Sumgayit, the country's third largest city, and the entire Absheron Peninsula until 2030.

The plan, which covers an area of nearly 250,000 hectares, has been developed through coordination with the Baku State Design Institute.

Experts noted that initial studies covered the dynamics of the growth of these areas for 20 years and possible population growth in the region. It is estimated that by 2030, the population in the area will increase to 3.5 million people.

Azerbaijan's total population is currently more than 9.3 million.

According to Harvard University professor Kay Miller, the growth rate of the Azerbaijani population poses some challenges to the "Greater Baku." Miller points out that Azerbaijan has been a leader in the world in terms of gross domestic product and economic growth for many years. Hundreds of new businesses and new jobs have been created here over the past 20 years.

"So, it's necessary to take more serious measures while developing Baku Regional Development Plan," Miller said.