Marat Khakov: Armenian-Turkish border can be opened within two days
25.09.2009 17:39

Karen Ghazaryan
`Radiolur’

The South Caucasus Railway plans to invest a total of RUB 1.2bn in the
Armenian railroad facilities, with RUB 1bn to be invested in the
infrastructure, Deputy Director General Marat Khakov told a press
conference today.

He said that the company plans to invest RUB 600m in the track
facilities annually during the following three years. A total of RUB
10m will be invested in the design and survey works. A technical
diagnostics center will be opened at the Masis station by next May.

According to Marat Khakov, over 27,000 passengers were served by the
Yerevan-Batumi train ` an increase of 40% as compared with the
corresponding period last year. Inland passenger traffic reached
465,000 ` an increase of 40%.

Khakov said that two overhauled locomotives will replenish the
company’s locomotive fleet this October. Railway communication between
Gyumri and Vanadzor will be resumed in a few months.

Khakov also addressed the three railway accidents at the Masis and
Noragavit stations, as well as at the Tumanyan-Shaghali crossing. In
the first two cases, it was `a human factor.’ As regards the third
case, Khakov said that Tumanyan-Shaghali is the most difficult section
that needs repairing.

The South Caucasus Railway Company has repaired a 5-km-long section and
0Aplans to repair a 10-km-long section before the end of this year. The
company replaced 60,000 sleepers and plans to replace 40,000 more.

Asked whether the company is ready for the opening of the
Armenian-Turkish border, Marat Khakov said they discussed the issue at
the ministry of Transport and Communication last week.
According to the Deputy Director General, they are ready to open the
border within two days if they get a corresponding instruction from the
government.