South Caucasus Railway
South Caucasus Railway (Armenian: Հարավկովկասյան երկաթուղի, Russian: Южно-Кавказская железная дорога) is a rail operator in Armenia, owned by Russian Railways.
Armenia's railway network. | |
Yerevan railway station — the biggest in Armenia. | |
Overview | |
---|---|
Headquarters | Yerevan |
Reporting mark | HYU |
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 | ukzhd.am |
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]
Yerevan to Gyumri
Yerevan to Ararat
Yerevan to Araks
Yerevan to Yeraskh
Summer only service from Yerevan (Almast station) to Shorzha
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 due to the blockade against the country by Turkey and Azerbaijan due to conflict in Nagorno Karabagh.[3]
See also
References
- "About company". South Caucasus Railway. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- "Schedule". South Caucasus Railway. Retrieved 2 October 2016.
- "Armenia looks to the private sector". Railway Gazette International. January 2008.