Rail transport in Azerbaijan

Rail transport in Azerbaijan is carried out by the national railway company Azərbaycan Dəmir yollari.

History

The first railway line in what was then the Russian Empire belonging to Azerbaijan was opened in 1880 in the suburb area of Baku, led them across Sabuncu after Suraxany. The track width corresponded with the Russian broad gauge 1524 mm. 1883 the first long-distance line was opened, she led from Baku to Tbilisi in Georgia. 1900 connect Baku- Derbent and Baladschari after Petrowsk ( Makhachkala ) was opened in Dagestan. With connection to the railway network in the Armenian part of Russia in Uluchanlu (now Massis ) and no direct connection to Azerbaijani railway network was taken in 1908 in the route Julfa on Scharur in operation. Thus, the expansion of the Azerbaijani railway network was initially completed.

Due to the availability of electricity from hydropower began unusually early with the electrification of the railway lines. The 1926 electrified at 1200 volts DC route Baku - Sabuncu was the first electric railway in the Soviet Union. Later electrification carried out with 3000 volts DC.

The route opened in 1924 Ələt - Əli Bayramlı (now Shirvan ) was extended in 1936 and 1941 Mindschewan on Armenian territory ( Meghri ) to Julfa.

1941, the route was opened, followed by Astara border crossing to Iran. 1944 Stepanakert ( Xankəndi ) is connected.

Until 1991 the railway in Azerbaijan was conducted by the Azerbaijan Railways, under the supervision of the Soviet Ministry of Transport. This had three departments in Baku, Ganja and Nakhchivan City. With the independence of Azerbaijan in 1991, the state railway company Azərbaycan Dövlət Dəmir Yolu was formed, which was transformed into Azərbaycan Dəmir yollari 2009.

Railway operation

Due to the conflict with Armenia over Nagorno -Karabakh operation of the railway in the Armenian occupied territories ( Nagorno-Karabakh Republic ) and the cross-border traffic to Armenia is set. This is also not a railway in the exclave of Nakhchivan. Rail transport in Iran is limited only to Nakhchivan. International travel is also one of the Russian Railways and the Georgian railways. In freight transport, the transportation of oil from Baku to the Georgian ports of Batumi and Poti dominated the Black Sea.

In January 2007, the construction of the railway Kars - Akhalkalaki -Tbilisi- Baku was decided that will connect Azerbaijan to the European railway network, bypassing Russia and Armenia. After completion of Azerbaijan receives over Georgia a railway connection to Turkey without having to go through Armenia. A direct railway connection from Nakhichevan to Turkey is planned.

The network of Azərbaycan Dəmir yollari has electrified a total length of 2918 km, of which 800 km double track and 1278 km.