The Baku – Tbilisi – Kars (BTK) railway line, which stretches across Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, is due to reopen by April 2024 following modernisation measures. Due to sanctions and the development of the Middle Corridor as an alternative, the BTK line is once again coming into focus. The modernisation work is aimed at overcoming the limited capacity and the challenges posed by the difficult terrain. The BTK line was previously unable to handle more than 1 million t of freight per year. The work, which is being carried out jointly by the governments and railway administrations of Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, aims to increase capacity to up to 5 million t per year. To date, 95% of the modernisation work on a 183 km section has been completed. The project comprises five parts, all located in Georgia, including the construction of a 110 ha logistics complex in Akhalkalaki near the Georgian-Turkish border. Once the project is completed, a joint venture will be established between Azerbaijan and Georgia to efficiently manage operations on the BTK and attract new cargo.
