(Read the full article on report.az)

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has published a report on the implementation of the development program in the sphere of railways in Azerbaijan.

Report informs that the document features the current state and forecasts on the country’s railway sector and provides information about the projects implemented within the ADB program.

The railway development program for Azerbaijan will fund the restoration of the Sumgayit – Yalama railway line and structure.

The Azerbaijani Railways Development Program will provide funding for the rehabilitation of the Sumgayit-Yalama railway line and structure. The Sumgayit-Yalama railway line plays an essential role in the North-South transport corridor. The Azerbaijani Railways Development Program will improve the operation and management of the railway network, re-form the systems of finance, reporting, and control.

It is emphasized that in Azerbaijan, there is a steady decline in the share of the railroads in the transport system. This trend is also observed in other countries of the region. The expansion of the road network and the improvement of the oil and gas network have led to competition with the railways. For many years, a lack of investment has hampered the development of railway infrastructure.
In the early 2000s, investments in the oil and gas industry also benefited the sector. It has benefited from the growth in exports and imports of building materials and consumer goods. However, the market share of rail transport continued to decline.

26.5 million tons of cargo were transported by rail in 2006, 22.4 million tons in 2010, and 15.5 million tons of freight in 2016. The transportation volumes in 2020 amounted to 4,631,000 tons of cargo.