Azerbaijan continues construction of Nakhchivan railway toward Ordubad

Azerbaijan Railways CJSC (ADY) is continuing construction work on the first seven-kilometer section of the railway running from the Azerbaijan-Armenia border toward Ordubad as part of the reconstruction of Nakhchivan’s railway infrastructure, AzerNEWS reports.

ADY said the first stage of the design and construction works, which began in late 2025, covers the Salammalik, Ordubad, Aza and Julfa sections. Work is currently underway on earthworks and the renewal of the railway line along the section between the border and Ordubad.

The reconstructed railway will have an alignment length of 194 kilometers and a total length of 264 kilometers, including sidings. The project calls for the construction and rehabilitation of 814 engineering structures, including 10 stations, three platforms, 29 bridges, 11 overpasses and various crossings.

In addition, 12 protective galleries along the route are undergoing major reconstruction. Work is also continuing on overpasses, concrete channels and other engineering structures.

Earthworks have already been completed along a six-kilometer section. Installation of new rail-and-sleeper track panels has also begun along a 700-meter section starting from Salammalik station.

Once the project is completed, the annual freight-carrying capacity of the Nakhchivan railway is expected to reach 15 million tons.

The reconstructed railway network in Nakhchivan will connect to the Zangezur Corridor from the Ordubad direction, while the Horadiz-Aghband railway will connect to the corridor from mainland Azerbaijan. The project is intended to establish a direct railway connection between mainland Azerbaijan and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic, while also creating a direct transport link with Türkiye.

Under the agreements reached in Washington on August 8, 2025, the creation of the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) and the restoration of a railway connection along the Zangezur Corridor are envisaged.

Work is also continuing on other sections of the corridor. The project on the Alat-Osmanli section is 60% complete, while 73% of the Horadiz-Aghband railway has been completed.

The new transport link is expected to expand the capabilities of the Middle Corridor, support the development of freight transportation between Europe and Asia, and improve access to the markets of Türkiye and Europe.

At the same time, the Zangezur Corridor is strategically important for strengthening Azerbaijan’s transit potential through its integration with the North-South International Transport Corridor.