NEW RUSSIA-ARMENIA RAILWAY CONNECTION PLANS
Messenger Staff
The Messenger
May 3 2010
Georgia
Shevket Shaydullin, Director General of South Caucasus Railways,
the former Armenian Railways which is now a daughter company of
Russian Railways, has stated that in the coming 3-5 years the railway
connections between Armenia and Russia via Georgia and Azerbaijan
might be restored and start functioning. He added that this depends
on political decisions but expressed the hope that this dream will
come true.
South Caucasus Railways was given to Russian Railways for 30 years,
with a possible prolongation of this agreement for 20 more years,
in 2008. Russian Railways undertook a commitment to invest more than
USD 500 million in the development of the company, and even more if
the railway connections to Turkey are restored. Russian Railways will
invest over USD 1.5 billion if the route through Azerbaijan is also
restored, and if the railways run through Georgia and Abkhazia the
investment will be even greater, over USD 2 billion.