Azerbaijan Railways fast-tracked development in 2025 by upgrading their wagon and locomotive fleet and increasing the pace of priority line electrification to boost transportation capacity and expand the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor.

Azerbaijan Railways modernize fleet and infrastructure
Photo: ADY

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Vehicles renewal

August saw the purchase of 300 new wagons, of which 200 are open wagons and 100 are platforms. The open wagons are for 22 years and the platforms for 32 years. The company agreed a deal for seven Chinese mainline locomotives in April and 14 others are to be purchased. Meanwhile, the present fleet for the ADY is 50 locomotives and 15 electrical train sets.

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Electrification and infrastructure upgrades

The recent years have seen active electrification of alternative current lines. The Ujar–Hajigabul line, 122 km long, has already been converted and installed with an MRM control system and modern means of communication. All the same, work is continuous: until 2027, the Hajigabul–Baku line is being also electrified. Therefore, more powerful locomotives shall allow the composition of heaver trains and a significant increase in the carrying capacity of the railway.

Strategic significance for Middle Corridor

Through the Middle Corridor, 24,000 TEU transitted in the first seven months of 2025 — almost twice as many as during the same period a year earlier. The country’s railways in service were 2,142 km long, of which 1,149 were electrified. Freight turnover at the end of 2024 was 7.025 billion tkm, and passenger turnover was 377 million passenger-km.

Azerbaijan Railways received new wagons.

300 new wagons were acquired in August 2025, which included open wagons and universal platforms, in a massive project for rolling stock renewal.

How Does Electrification Change the Railway Network?

Alternating current electric power permits the use of higher-powered locomotives, enabling larger trains and greatly increasing Azerbaijan Railways’ transportation capability.

What is Azerbaijan Railways’ role in the Middle Corridor?

Azerbaijan Railways emphasize the importance of the Middle Corridor, for 24,000 TEU were shipped within the first seven months of 2025 — nearly twice as many as the previous year.

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