TBILISI: Armenia Getting Ready To Open Turkish-Armenian Railways

ARMENIA GETTING READY TO OPEN TURKISH-ARMENIAN RAILWAYS

The Messenger
Nov 13 2009
Georgia

Minister of Transport of Armenia Gurgen Sarkisian stated on November
11 that Armenia is ready to begin cross-border railway transport as
soon as the border with Turkey is opened. Rehabilitation of motorways
is also being undertaken.

The main problem in connecting the two railways is the width of the
track. Armenia uses Russian standard gauge but Turkey’s track is
European standard gauge. Russian gauge is a bit wider, so there are
two solutions: either the trains’ wheel axles should be changed in
Armenia or transported cargo should be reloaded into Turkish carriages.

It is also being suggested that Armenia will buy 120 railway carriages.