Work has started on a 224km new electrified double-track line between Kars in northeast Turkey and Nakhchivan in southwest Azerbaijan, running via Igdir. When the line is completed by 2030, the journey time between Nakhchivan and Kars is expected to be reduced by 1h 25min.
Five new stations will be built in Turkey, at Digor, Tuzluca, Igdir, Aralik and Dilucu, with plans for additional stations also under consideration.
According to project lead Osman Beserk, as reported by Baku’s Report news agency, the new line will be integrated into the existing Baku – Tbilisi – Kars (BTK) railway, which is expected to open up new opportunities for rail freight moving between central Asia and Europe.
The new line will have three viaducts, extending to around 2.8km, five tunnels with a combined length of 11.3 km, 10 bridges and 480 culverts. It will become part of the Zangazur Corridor, connecting Turkey and Azerbaijan with other key cities and destinations within the wider region.
