Following the successful operation of the Poti-Tbilisi-Poti service, Georgian Railways is set to launch a new block train connecting Georgian ports directly to Baku.

According to Georgian Railways, this new service will run along a route encompassing Batumi, Poti, Tbilisi, Absheron, Sumgayit, and Aliatsi.

They emphasise that the block train will link the Black Sea ports with Azerbaijan’s major terminals on a fixed schedule.

The two parties signed a mutual agreement in Almaty.

“Georgian and Azerbaijani Railways are offering cargo owners a streamlined ‘terminal-to-door’ service. The block trains will operate on a predetermined timetable, enabling cargo owners to transport containers from the port of Poti to Baku swiftly. They will know in advance how long their containers will take to reach Baku, as well as the return time for empty containers,” Georgian Railways explained.

This new service is expected to shift the transportation of empty containers from road to rail, reducing pressure on the roads and minimising environmental impact.

“This is a simplified logistics solution for cargo owners, who will receive containers from Batumi, Poti, or Tbilisi to Baku, and vice versa, within a specified timeframe, without delays. Not only will this save time, but it will also reduce costs, since parking cargo and empty containers at terminals incurs daily fees. Georgian Railways remains committed to streamlining logistics services. We aim to maximise cargo transport, which will ultimately increase the revenues of Georgian Railways,” stated Lasha Abashidze, Director General of Georgian Railways.