Baku:The management of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) recently convened a meeting with experts in public transport, international transport corridors, logistics, and tourism. The focus of the meeting was to discuss ADY's recent achievements, ongoing projects, and future development priorities.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, the meeting involved an extensive exchange of views on various projects implemented by ADY in recent years. Discussions covered passenger and freight transportation performance, railway infrastructure modernization, and the development of international transport corridors, along with existing challenges and future priorities.
ADY Chairman Rovshan Rustamov highlighted the crucial role of railway transport in Azerbaijan's socio-economic development. He emphasized improving public mobility and strengthening the country's position as an international transport and logistics hub. Increasing passenger satisfaction, improving service quality, and ensuring safe and sustainable transportation were noted as key priorities for the company.
The meeting presented figures indicating that ADY transported 9.8 million passengers from January to October 2026, marking a 19% increase from the previous year. October recorded a monthly high in passenger volume, with over 1.3 million people using the railway network. The Absheron circular railway experienced a rise in average daily passenger traffic from 36,000 to 52,000 over the past two years.
Reforms in passenger transportation were also reviewed, including the launch of new routes and the restoration of existing railway connections. Focus was placed on the restoration of the Baku-Balakan and Baku-Aghdam routes, extension of the Baku-Aghstafa service to Gazakh, introduction of daily services between Ganja and Gabala, and resumption of the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku international railway connection.
Participants discussed developing railway services across Absheron to reduce passenger congestion, optimize train schedules, upgrade infrastructure in the Khirdalan direction, and improve station facilities. Plans to upgrade the Baku-Khirdalan-Sumgayit and Baku-Pirshagi-Sumgayit lines, restore new suburban routes, and procure 20 new passenger trains were outlined.
Another key topic was digital service development, focusing on enhancing online ticket sales, real-time passenger information, modern payment systems, and railway service accessibility.
The meeting also concentrated on strengthening Azerbaijan's transit potential along international transport corridors. ADY reported a 13% increase in freight transportation volumes, reaching 15.7 million tons in the first ten months of 2026, with a 20% rise in transit freight volumes.
Developments in the Middle Corridor and North-South International Transport Corridor were discussed, alongside the modernization of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the construction of the Horadiz-Aghband railway line. The expansion of the Port of Baku's capacity and the upgrade of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, increasing its annual freight capacity fivefold, were highlighted.
The transfer of the Port of Baku under ADY's management was discussed to improve rail and maritime transportation coordination. Container throughput at the port exceeded 112,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in the first ten months of the year, a 31% increase.
Participants also explored ways to enhance the competitiveness of international freight services, eliminate logistics chain bottlenecks, expand the wagon fleet, simplify border-crossing procedures, and digitalize freight operations.
The role of railway transportation in tourism development was discussed, emphasizing expanding passenger services to regional destinations to promote domestic tourism and stimulate regional economic activity.
ADY management responded to expert questions, considered their proposals, and provided updates on ongoing and planned initiatives to improve railway services. Rustamov concluded by stressing the importance of maintaining open dialogue with the expert community, noting that such meetings offer a platform for exchanging views and identifying key priorities for railway transportation development. ADY expressed interest in continuing cooperation with experts across relevant sectors.
Source Azeri-Press news agency