By rosebell
As the construction is undergoing, Azerbaijan Railways has announced the completion of design work for the Horadiz-Aghband railway line.
Bakhtiyar Hajiyev, lead specialist at Azerbaijan Railways, told Trend: “Around 60% of the construction is now complete. One tunnel has been finished, and work on the second tunnel is underway.”
On 14 February 2021, the foundation for the railway line was laid by President Ilham Aliyev, whereas the Construction Project Management Department reported 57% of construction progress by August 2024, including 83% of design work completed.
The responsibility of construction is up to the Turkish company Kalyon RSY Insaat Adi Ortakligi Ticari İşletmesi, while the railway will span 110.4km, with side tracks bringing the total length to approximately 140.6km.
Being designed by local engineers, the Horadiz-Aghband line is due to involve over than 300 artificial structures, including eight stations, three tunnels, 47 bridges, five overpasses, seven road underpasses, galleries, and retaining walls. 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.
In order to structural adjustments based on the surrounding rock’s load-bearing capacity and optimising construction costs, this tunnel is being constructed using the New Austrian Tunneling Method.
Following completion, linking Nakhchivan and open new freight routes between the East and West, boosting regional trade and connectivity, according to Hajiyev, will be the advantages of this railway, while it will enhance both domestic and international transportation.
The scheduled date for completion of this project is 2025 and it 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.
