Armenia prepares to restore railway sections

2026-07-05

Armenia has begun preparatory work to restore the Gyumri-Akhurik and Erask railway sections, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said.

“We will carry out these works ourselves. As for the remaining sections, we will continue working meetings, including with our Russian partners,” he said.

These railway sections lead to Armenia’s borders with Turkey and Azerbaijan. Yerevan has previously offered Russia to restore them. The restoration and expansion of the lines would fully open up Armenia’s railway connections.

Russia has not given any indication that it is ready to implement the project. At the same time, Moscow officials have said that they do not intend to give up the railway concession.

The project announced by Armenia is of geopolitical and economic importance, as it involves the restoration of borders and railway connections that have been closed since 1993 (after the first Karabakh war).

The geographical location of these railway sections and their strategic role are as follows:

1. Gyumri - Akhurik section (Turkish direction)

Location: Located in northwestern Armenia, in the Shirak province. Akhurik station is the last stop before the Turkish border, which connects to Akyaka station on the Turkish side, and from there to the city of Kars.

Significance: During the Soviet Union, this was the only direct railway line between Turkey and the USSR. With the restoration of this route, Armenia is directly connected to the Turkish railway network, which gives it an alternative route to the Mediterranean Sea and European markets.

2. Eraskhi section (Azerbaijan/Nakhichevan direction)

Location: Located in southwestern Armenia, in the Ararat province. Eraskhi station is located directly on the border with the Azerbaijani exclave of Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic.

Significance: During the Soviet period, this line (Eraskhi-Nakhichevan-Megri-Horadiz) was the main artery connecting Nakhichevan with the main territory of Azerbaijan via Armenia. In addition, it was the only direct railway line from the Soviet Union to Iran. With its restoration, Armenia will receive a railway outlet to Iran and via Azerbaijan to Russia, while Azerbaijan will be connected to Nakhichevan.

Why is this moment critical now?

1. Independent step without Russia: Under a 2008 agreement, Armenia’s entire railway network is operated by a subsidiary of Russian Railways (“South Caucasus Railway”). Pashinyan’s statement that Armenia is building these sections independently and at its own expense suggests that Yerevan is trying to circumvent Moscow’s passivity (or blocking) in this project.

2. “Crossroads of Peace”: This project is part of the Armenian government’s strategic plan to transform the country from a logistical dead end into a transit hub.

3. Alternative for Georgia: Currently, Armenia’s only operational railway connection to the outside world runs through Georgia (Tbilisi). Opening the routes to Turkey and Azerbaijan would significantly change the regional transit balance.

Dato Gochava, Professional Railwaymen's Club