South Caucasus Railway
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![]() South Caucasus Railway headquarter in Yerevan | |
Industry | Railways |
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Headquarters | Yerevan railway station, , |
Area served | Armenia |
Services | Rail transport, Cargo transport |
Owner | Russian Railways |
Website | www |
![]() Armenia's railway network. | |
Yerevan railway station — the biggest in Armenia. | |
Overview | |
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Headquarters | Yerevan |
Reporting mark | HYU / YuKŽD |
Locale | ![]() |
Dates of operation | 2008–present |
Predecessor | Armenian Railways |
Technical | |
Track gauge | 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) |
Electrification | 3 kV DC |
Length | 780 km (480 mi) |
Other | |
Website | www |
South Caucasus Railway (Armenian: Հարավկովկասյան երկաթուղի, ՀԿԵ, Russian: Южно-Кавказская железная дорога, ЮКЖД) is the sole railway company in Armenia, owned by Russian Railways, responsible for all inter-city, commuter, and freight rail transport in Armenia. The network consists of 780 kilometers (480 mi) of track with all lines in the Russian gauge.
Main information
On 13 February 2008, the Government of Armenia signed an agreement to transfer 100% of the state-owned Armenian Railways to Russian Railways. According to the agreement, the concession period is 30 years, with a possible extension for another 10 years by mutual agreement of the parties. In accordance with the terms of the tender, existing railway employees (4,300 people), except those of retirement age, were transferred to the staff of South Caucasus Railway on salary increases of up to 20%.[1]
Routes
South Caucasus Railway currently operates the following services:[2]
1. Armenia - Georgia express/sleeper service: Yerevan to Tbilisi / Batumi via Gyumri and Vanadzor[3][4]
2. Yerevan to Araks (Myasnikan) / Gyumri - 3 services a day plus 1 additional short journey to Araks (an onward branch from Gyumri to Artik, Pemzashen and Maralik has not run a passenger service since 2013, whilst a freight only line also branches from Armavir [the station prior to Araks] to the Metsamor power plant)
3. Yerevan to Ararat & Yeraskh - 1 service a day
4. Summer-only service from Yerevan (Almast station) to Hrazdan, Sevan and Shorzha[5] (a branch from Hrazdan to Dilijan via the 8km-long Meghradzor-Fioletovo tunnel has not been used since 2012[6] [and onward to Ijevan since 1992[7]])
The latter route is used year round by freight trains, running beyond Shorzha to transport gold ore from Sotk mine just beyond Vardenis back via the Yerevan western bypass freight railway line to the refinery in Ararat (as well as by trains serving the Hrazdan Cement plant located 5km up the Dilijan branch). A link also exists to the Yerevan Metro at Charbakh Depot via the Karmir Blur siding.
International links
Azerbaijan – closed – same gauge
Georgia – open – same gauge
Iran – via Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan enclave – closed – break of gauge – 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)/1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Turkey -Akhuryan/Doğukapı, closed since 1993 – break of gauge -1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in)/1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Except with Georgia, all international railway links between Armenia and its neighbors have been closed since 1993.[8]
See also
- Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway
- List of railway companies
- Rail transport in Europe
- Russian gauge
- Transport in Armenia
References
- ^ "About company". South Caucasus Railway. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Schedule". South Caucasus Railway. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- ^ "Train from Tbilisi to Yerevan: Your Complete Travel Guide".
- ^ "How to travel by train to Georgia, Armenia & Azerbaijan".
- ^ "Train travel in Armenia".
- ^ Pambak tunnel ru.wikipedia.org
- ^ Condition of the railway network in Armenia epress.am 4 May 2021
- ^ "Armenia looks to the private sector". Railway Gazette International. January 2008.