Baku and Tbilisi to Reconnect by Train

Azerbaijan and Georgia are resuming passenger rail service after a multi-year hiatus. Agreements to this effect were reached in Baku during a meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze.

The talks focused on key areas of bilateral cooperation, primarily energy and transport. Following the meeting, the parties extended the agreement on Azerbaijani natural gas supplies to Georgia for 20 years. A long-term intergovernmental agreement on the transportation and sale of electricity was also signed.

One of the key outcomes of the talks was the decision to restore passenger rail service between Baku and Tbilisi, which was suspended six years ago. According to preliminary reports, regular services between the capitals could begin as early as May 26.

Rail service between the two countries was suspended in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Meanwhile, Azerbaijan's land borders remain closed, and the country's quarantine regime remains in effect. Currently, air travel remains the primary means of travel outside the country.

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