Over 74,000 passengers so far used Baku-Sumgayit railway
By Nigar Orujova
The double-decker trains that have run between Baku and Sumgayit since September have transported over 74,000 passengers so far.
Azerbaijan’s capital, Baku, and its industrial city of Sumgayit were connected with a renovated railway and modern train system on September 12.
In the period from September 12 to October 27, double-decker trains on the route transported 74,059 passengers, Azerbaijani Railways company reported on October 27.
Along the route are passenger stations Baku, Kishly, Bilajari, Khirdalan, Gyuzdek, Sumgayit, the 10th and 6th checkpoints and dividing points.
The number of passengers carried on the Baku-Sumgayit route by the electric trains manufactured by Stadler Rail Group is increasing, the report said.
The trains have 396 seats, including 84 business class seats, and have a total capacity of 919 passengers. Passengers can enjoy WiFi during their ride.
During this period, there have been 39,232 standard and 1,439 business-class tickets purchased at the station in Baku, while in Sumgayit 32,473 standard and and 915 business-class tickets were sold.
At present, Azerbaijan has three double-decker trains with two more trains set to arrive by the end of the year. Passengers are able to pay for trips with a single travel card called the BakiKart, used in the subway and BakuBus.
Moreover, the company believes there is a need to build pedestrian crossings over the railway line.
Nadir Azmammadov, the head of press service at Azerbaijani Railways, says residents create big problems for the normal operation of trains.
“They often go on the rails when the train pulls up, or go through the railway track at the wrong time, forcing drivers to slow down. This, in turn, affects the train schedule. So, I think pedestrian tunnels should be created on the railways. Or, at least, signposts that say if the move over this sector of the railroad is allowed,” he said.
Azmammadov noted that residents have repeatedly appealed to the company with such proposals. “Work is underway in this direction now.”
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Nigar Orujova is AzerNews’s staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @o_nigar
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