The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway corridor connects Azerbaijan-Georgia-Turkey and is a vital link for Eurasian transportation. According to experts, this is a good alternative to congested routes, which gives the countries of the region the best opportunity to develop along the new Silk Road. Some experts believe that with the Nakhchivan Railway pipeline, the status quo in the region could change. According to them, Azerbaijan and Armenia will acquire railway access to each other's territories and will no longer need third countries. Based on these arguments, part of the specialists argues that the BTK corridor may lose part of the transit cargo flow.
Last year, Russia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan signed a tripartite ceasefire agreement ending the Nagorno-Karabakh war. Azerbaijan plans to restore the forgotten Caucasus Railway, which will be useful not only for the connections between Azerbaijan and its remote areas but also for Iran and Russia, which see the possibility of a better connection across the North-South corridor. This railway line is not new. It was built in 1941 when Azerbaijan was part of the Soviet Union and became inactive in 1989, at the first sign of political tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan. It was used for freight transportation between the Soviet Union and the Persian Gulf ports of Iran. With the Nakhichevan Railway activation, this section will regain its old function; it will connect Russia with the Persian Gulf and India. The works include the reconstruction of about 100 kilometers of railway.
Russia supports the development of the Nakhichevan railway line, and in this scenario, Iran sees a chance for a direct launch into the Transcaucasian railway corridor. Azerbaijan is primarily interested in the launch of this line, as it will get a better connection between its internal and external regions. Until now, freight trains have traveled much longer distances, moving along the Azerbaijan-Armenia border and the Iranian border as well. This line also pleases Armenia, as it, along with Azerbaijan, has great potential to become a vital crossroads in the Caucasus, making the North-South-Eurasian Corridor more integrated and create new opportunities for significant carriers in the region.
