YEREVAN-BATUMI RAIL TRIP TO BE LAUNCHED IN ARMENIA IN EARLY JUNE

/ARKA/
April 28, 2009
YEREVAN

Yerevan-Batumi rail trip is to be launched in early June,
Deputy General Director of the South Caucasus Railroad cjsc
for Infrastructures Marat Khakov told journalists at "Novosti"
International Press Center Tuesday.

Yerevan-Tbilisi will be operated as per the same schedule, whereas
Yerevan-Batumi is to be operated every other day, he said.

Khakov also pointed out that the company is currently considering
possible increase in rail traffic speed and that the passenger traffic
duration is possibly to reduce on this section already in May.

Chief Engineer of South Caucasus Railroad cjsc Sergey Harutiunyan,
in his turn, said that the company will try to maintain competitive
differentiated prices bearing in mind the air flight launched for
this direction.

Yerevan-Batumi rail trip is launched mainly in summer time for
Armenian tourists visiting the Black Sea resorts of Georgia. In 2008,
a ticket for Yerevan-Batumi trip cost about 18,000 Drams for two-seat
compartments and 9,300 Drams for four-seat compartments.

South Caucasus Railroad fully owned by the Russian Railways is the
concession management operator of the Armenian Railways under a 30-year
concession agreement signed on February 13 2008. ($1=371.07Drams).