Reduced local transportation on Georgian Railways

Against the backdrop of the country's economy's increasingly high growth rates in recent years, paradoxically enough, local transportation on Georgian Railways is permanently decreasing.

It is well known that the development of the country's industrial potential depends, first of all, on its transport "backbone", mainly on local freight transportation by railway.

Against the backdrop of the country's economic growth, the trend of a permanent decrease in one of the important transport indicators - local railway transportation - calls into question the reality of increasing the country's economic growth rates at the expense of the development of industrial sectors.

In 2024, the lowest rate of local transportation in the last 15 years was recorded on Georgian Railways - 1.4 million tons, which amounted to 10% of the total freight turnover, as well as the minimum. In 2011-2024, local railway transportation decreased by 53% from 3 million tons to 1.4 million tons.

Naturally, the question arises, what determines the trends of decreasing local transportation by railway?

Given that a significant part of local transportation is carried out on the branches of the Georgian Railway, the first and most important reason is the poor condition of the infrastructure, in particular, the track, on the branches of the Georgian Railway (see the branch diagram).

Due to the condition of the track, the movement speeds and the loads on the wagon axles are limited on the branches of the Georgian Railway, which means that the railway loses its mobility and cannot compete with road transportation.

In such conditions, freight road transport performs "non-profile" types of transportation for it. The movement of vehicles loaded with construction and inert materials on the roads is noticeable, which, along with environmental pollution, causes intensive damage to the road surface.

Overall, railway branches that remain "inoperative" hinder the development of the industrial potential of the country's regions. Maintaining such railway branches places an additional burden on the financially unstable Georgian Railways.

What is the solution?

Based on the current reality, Georgian Railways has found a solution - the complete dismantling of the railway branch.

In 2021, the Zugdidi - Jvari section was dismantled with the argument that the mentioned section was inoperative, and at the same time frequent robberies of the Lindagi were common. By decision of the Georgian Railways, the initial 11 km of the 35 km Zugdidi-Jvari section were left in operation, while the remaining 24 km were completely demolished and canceled. In fact, 9 villages in the region were left without a railway connection.

In addition, the state had an attempt to restore one of the railway branches. The real promise, which concerned the restoration of the Kakheti Railway, was made in the format of pre-election promises in 2012.

Later in 2019, the promise was reinforced by the state with specific arguments. In particular, financial resources were being raised jointly with the Asian Development Bank.

By 2020, it became clear that - "the Asian Development Bank did not have a single completed, ongoing or planned railway project in Georgia".

The promise of the Kakheti Railway Rehabilitation Project has remained unfulfilled to this day.

What is the solution?

In order to develop the industrial potential of the country’s regions, it will be necessary to build and develop (finance) the branch infrastructure of the Georgian Railway, a model widely tested in Europe – the branch infrastructure. This model can be used on the Kakheti Railway as well.

It is worth noting that the deplorable condition of the tracks on the branches intended for freight transportation automatically leads to delays in passenger transportation on the same branches.

Based on the analysis of more than 100 responses by the Transport Corridor Research Center, it was revealed that passenger transportation on the branches of the Georgian Railway is practically paralyzed.

The population's demands for the restoration of traffic on the branches are high. In fact, in a situation where, as a result of the increase in fuel prices, prices for minibuses in the regions increased, the railway failed to ensure that the regions' passenger transportation market adapted to this.

After Covid, the railway suspended passenger transportation, and in response to this reality, the railway linked the standard explanation - "Unfortunately, at this stage, it is impossible to meet the new railway regulations on suburban trains and, accordingly, the risk of the spread of Covid 19 is quite high."

Naturally, the population's argument was unambiguous and convincing - "If Covid 19 does not spread in the Batumi direction, aren't there fewer passengers on the Borjomi train?"

The population's demand is to ease access to mountain resorts.

The main demand is to restore the Borjomi train so that the population has (cheap) access to the resort of Bakuriani via the Borjomi-Bakuriani railway, which is not functioning.

"What about the people... Borjomi-Tbilisi does not run. What is our fault of the poor people, who thinks about us?" (The railway branch is paralyzed).

"When will Borjomi-Bakuriani be restored?" (The railway branch is paralyzed)

"I have never heard of people and regions being so divided, Georgia is only Western Georgia? Doesn't the railway belong to the East too?" (The railway branch is paralyzed)

"When will the “Perevali” train Khashuri-Zestafoni be available?" (Railway branch paralyzed)

“When will Tbilisi-Gardabani resume work?” (Railway branch paralyzed)

“What did other regions really do wrong, if the price is one GEL, let it became two, or if it is two GEL, let it became three, but restore it” (Railway branch paralyzed)

“If trains are going to be run and you think about the people, what did Borjomi, Nikozi do wrong? People are going to work. How can you do this to the poor people? Who legalized that?” (Railway branch paralyzed)

“We ask the railway authorities to publicly explain the reason why they are not allowing the Borjomi train to run.” (Railway branch paralyzed)

“Are you planning to open the Kutaisi-Sachkhere line and when?” (Railway branch paralyzed)

Will the Borjomi and Nikozi trains be restored at all? Those villages need it most critically” (Railway branch paralyzed)

"The movement in the Borjomi direction should start, the mountain resorts have opened and people will benefit, they will transfer to "Kukushka" in Borjomi, so that vacationers can easily and cheaply get to Bakuriani, so measures should be taken to transport passengers in the Borjomi direction as quickly and safely as possible". (Easing access to the mountain resorts).

"What did the Batumi-Kutaisi-Batumi direction do wrong?" (The main direction is paralyzed)

"Will Ozurgeti Batumi ever be restored?" (The main direction is paralyzed).

In conclusion – the restoration of the branches of the Georgian Railway and its further functioning requires a systematic solution to the accumulated problems from the state.

Info: transcor.ge