The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) line is a railway of approximately 827 km connecting the rail networks of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye; it opened on 30 October 2017. Broad gauge and standard gauge meet at Akhalkalaki in Georgia. The line is the Caucasus rail link of the Middle Corridor, which extends across the Caspian Sea to Central Asia and China.
Route
The line starts in Baku, crosses into Georgia over the Azerbaijani rail network, turns south-west near Tbilisi to reach Akhalkalaki and from there crosses the Turkish border to connect with Kars. The most important newly built section of the project is the approximately 105 km stretch between Kars and Akhalkalaki, which previously had no rail connection; about 76 km of it lies on the Turkish side. After Kars, cargo reaches inland regions, ports and the connection to Europe over Türkiye's standard-gauge network.
Akhalkalaki and the change of track gauge
Azerbaijan and Georgia use the 1,520 mm broad gauge, the former USSR standard; Türkiye uses 1,435 mm standard gauge. The two systems meet at Akhalkalaki. Here the cargo is either transferred by crane from one wagon to another or the wagons' bogies are changed. Transhipment is quick for containers; bulk and palletised cargo require more handling. This point is one of the main bottlenecks determining the line's overall transit time and capacity.
History and current status
| Date | Development |
|---|---|
| 30 October 2017 | The line was officially opened in Baku; the first train carrying Kazakh wheat set off towards Türkiye |
| 2023 – May 2024 | The line was closed for about a year due to modernisation on the Georgian section |
| May 2024 | Freight traffic resumed |
| 2 June 2026 | The official opening ceremony of the renewed line was held at Akhalkalaki; annual freight capacity was announced to have risen from 1 million to 5 million tonnes |
Capacity and the volume actually carried are not the same thing. The real volume on the line is determined by the Caspian crossing, the transhipment points and wagon availability. For current traffic data, announcements by the railway undertakings should be followed.
Link to the Middle Corridor
BTK allows cargo travelling from China to Kazakhstan, and from there across the Caspian Sea by ship to Azerbaijan, to continue to Türkiye and Europe by rail without interruption. It is therefore one of the key parts of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route known as the Middle Corridor. Before the line opened there was no rail crossing from the Caucasus to Türkiye; cargo continued by ship from Georgia's Black Sea ports or by road. The port option is still used today.
Which cargo is it suitable for?
- Containerised general cargo; the most suitable type because of easy transhipment
- Bulk and semi-bulk cargo that can be carried in wagons
- Industrial inputs where cost per tonne over long distances matters
What to watch for when using it
- Total transit time: The Caspian crossing, the Akhalkalaki transhipment and border formalities should be calculated together.
- Documents: The route may fall under both the CIM and the SMGS regime; for choosing the consignment note see SMGS and CIM consignment notes.
- Customs: Because several countries are crossed, the transit regime should be planned in advance.
- Loading: Stowage and packaging should withstand transhipment and bogie changes.
- Alternative: A back-up route should be defined in case of departure or capacity problems.
Common mistakes
- Interpreting the announced capacity as a fixed departure frequency
- Not including the Akhalkalaki transhipment in the time plan
- Not including vessel waiting time on the Caspian in the rail plan; how the crossing works is explained in the entry Caspian Sea ferry crossing
Road transport is also an option in the same corridor: trucks going from Türkiye to Georgia via Sarp and on to Azerbaijan can cross the Caspian by ferry; road options towards Russia are covered under transit via Georgia, and door-to-door carriage on the international road freight page.