South Caucasus Railway

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Not to be confused with the Russian North Caucasus Railway.
South Caucasus Railway
South Caucasus Railway logo.svg
Armenian Railway.png
Armenia's railway network.
Սասունցի Դավիթ24.JPG
Yerevan railway station — the biggest in Armenia.
Overview
HeadquartersYerevan
Reporting markHYU
Locale Armenia
Dates of operation2008–present
PredecessorArmenian Railways
Technical
Track gauge1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)
Electrification3 kV DC
Length780 km (480 mi)
Other
Websiteukzhd.am

South Caucasus Railway (Armenian: Հարավկովկասյան երկաթուղի, Russian: Южно-Кавказская железная дорога) is a rail operator in Armenia, owned by Russian Railways.

Main information[]

On 13 February 2008, the Government of Armenia signed an agreement to transfer 100% of the state-owned Armenian Railways to Russian Railways. According to the agreement, the concession period is 30 years, with a possible extension for another 10 years by mutual agreement of the parties. In accordance with the terms of the tender, existing railway employees (4,300 people), except those of retirement age, were transferred to the staff of South Caucasus Railway on salary increases of up to 20%.[1]

Routes[]

South Caucasus Railway currently operates the following services:[2]

1. Armenia - Georgia express/sleeper service: Yerevan to Tbilisi / Batumi via Gyumri and Vanadzor[3][4]

2. Yerevan to Araks (Myasnikan) / Gyumri - 3 services a day plus 1 additional short journey to Araks (an onward branch from Gyumri to Artik, Pemzashen and Maralik has not run a passenger service since 2013, whilst a freight only line also branches from Armavir [the station prior to Araks] to the Metsamor power plant)

3. Yerevan to Ararat & Yeraskh - 1 service a day

4. Summer-only service from Yerevan (Almast station) to Hrazdan, Sevan and Shorzha[5] (a branch from Hrazdan to Dilijan via the 8km-long Meghradzor-Fioletovo tunnel has not been used since 2012[6] [and onward to Ijevan since 1992[7]])

The latter route is used year round by freight trains, running beyond Shorzha to transport gold ore from Sotk mine just beyond Vardenis back via the Yerevan western bypass freight railway line to the refinery in Ararat (as well as by trains serving the Hrazdan Cement plant located 5km up the Dilijan branch). A link also exists to the Yerevan Metro at Charbakh Depot via the Karmir Blur siding.

South Caucasus Railway headquarter in Yerevan

International links[]

  • Azerbaijan Azerbaijan – closed – same gauge
  • Georgia (country) Georgia – open – same gauge
  • Iran Iran – via Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan enclave – closed – break of gauge – 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)/1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
  • Turkey Turkey -Akhuryan/Doğukapı, closed since 1993 – break of gauge -1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)/1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Except with Georgia, all international railway links between Armenia and its neighbors have been closed since 1993.[8]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "About company". South Caucasus Railway. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  2. ^ "Schedule". South Caucasus Railway. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
  3. ^ "Train from Tbilisi to Yerevan: Your Complete Travel Guide".
  4. ^ "How to travel by train to Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan".
  5. ^ "Train travel in Armenia".
  6. ^ Pambak tunnel ru.wikipedia.org
  7. ^ Condition of the railway network in Armenia epress.am 4 May 2021
  8. ^ "Armenia looks to the private sector". Railway Gazette International. January 2008.

Links[]

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