Azerbaijan Railways has announced the completion of design work for the Horadiz-Aghband railway line, with construction now progressing.
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, lead specialist at Azerbaijan Railways, told Trend that around 60% of the construction is now complete. One tunnel has been finished, and work on the second tunnel is underway.
The foundation for the railway line was laid by President Ilham Aliyev on 14 February 2021. By August 2024, the Construction Project Management Department reported 57% of construction progress, including 83% of design work completed.
Construction is being carried out by the Turkish company Kalyon RSY Insaat Adi Ortakligi Ticari İşletmesi. The railway will span 110.4km, with side tracks bringing the total length to approximately 140.6km.
The Horadiz-Aghband line will feature more than 300 artificial structures, including eight stations, three tunnels, 47 bridges, five overpasses, seven road underpasses, galleries, and retaining walls, all designed by local engineers. Key components include a 771m bridge over the Hakari River, a 1,071m tunnel, and the first gallery in Azerbaijan built to protect the railway from rock avalanches.
The tunnel is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method, which allows structural adjustments based on the surrounding rock’s load-bearing capacity, optimising construction costs.
Once complete, the railway will connect Nakhchivan and open new freight routes between the East and West, enhancing regional trade and connectivity, according to Hajiyev. It will also boost both domestic and international transportation.
Set for completion in 2025, the project will strengthen the Middle Corridor, ensuring fast, reliable access for Azerbaijani goods to global markets, contributing to the country’s economic growth.
Azerbaijan’s location at the crossroads of major trade routes, including TRACECA, China’s Belt and Road Initiative, and the Trans-Caspian Route, reinforces its role as a key transport hub. Countries across the Caspian, Europe, Türkiye, and China are eager to collaborate with Azerbaijan in the transport and logistics sector.
