Baku: "Azerbaijan Railways" CJSC (ADY), an AZCON Holding company, is set to enhance travel services by expanding passenger capacity on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku international route, meeting the increasing demand and improving passenger satisfaction. Starting July 10, 2026, ADY will add three sleeper-type carriages, previously utilized as standard+ class carriages on domestic routes, to the trains operating on this route. This addition will increase the number of passenger seats per trip by approximately 60 percent, from 178 to 282, offering 104 additional seats.

According to Azeri-Press News Agency, tickets for the newly added carriages are now on sale and are priced lower than the existing "Stadler" passenger cars. The standard+ class fare for the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route now starts at 40.3 AZN (USD 23.7), with the minimum fare for a one-way travel from Baku to Tbilisi set at 65.2 AZN (USD 38.3). Other fares include 53.3 AZN (USD 31.5) from Yevlakh, 49.3 AZN (USD 29) from Ganja, and 45.3 AZN (USD 26.6) from Aghstafa. The fares from Boyuk Kesik to Tbilisi and Gardabani stations are 43.4 AZN (USD 25.50) and 40.3 AZN (USD 23.7) respectively.

The current fare for the "Stadler" carriages stands at 79.5 AZN (USD 46.7) for a one-way journey from Baku to Tbilisi, and 58.2 AZN (USD 34.2) from Ganja. The introduction of the standard+ sleeper carriages not only offers more affordable travel options but also includes a free baggage allowance of 36 kg, which is 13 kg more than the allowance for "Stadler" carriages. Furthermore, to enhance passenger comfort, mobile catering services will be offered in the standard+ carriages.

Between May 25 and July 6, nearly 25,000 tickets were sold, transporting almost 14,000 passengers on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route. Notably, 40 percent of these passengers originated from regional stations, highlighting the route's significance for regional travelers.

Overall, ADY's initiatives to broaden its service scope and improve passenger satisfaction have led to a significant increase in train travel. In the first half of 2026, over 5.4 million passengers traveled by rail, marking a nearly 20 percent increase compared to the same period in the previous year.

ADY remains committed to enhancing its services, ensuring passengers have access to comfortable, accessible, and safe travel experiences.