The Middle Corridor, or Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), is a multimodal transport route running from China via Kazakhstan, across the Caspian Sea by ship to Azerbaijan, Georgia and Türkiye, and on to Europe. As an alternative to the Northern Corridor through Russia, it has attracted much more interest, particularly since 2022.
How does the route run?
- China – Kazakhstan: Cargo reaches Kazakhstan's border crossings from China by rail or road.
- Within Kazakhstan: It is carried westwards across the country to the ports of Aktau and Kuryk on the Caspian coast.
- Caspian crossing: Ferries and vessels cross to the port of Baku (Alat) in Azerbaijan.
- Caucasus: Cargo moves west over the Azerbaijani and Georgian rail networks.
- Türkiye or the Black Sea: The cargo either enters Türkiye via the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line or continues by ship from Georgia's ports of Poti and Batumi.
- Europe: Europe is reached via Türkiye by road or rail, or across the Black Sea via Romanian and Bulgarian ports.
The corridor is coordinated by the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route association, headquartered in Astana. Its goals include attracting transit cargo, developing integrated logistics products, reducing border and administrative barriers and improving tariff policy.
Why did it gain prominence after 2022?
For a long time, most rail traffic between Asia and Europe used the Northern Corridor through Russia and Belarus. After 2022, sanctions, insurance and payment problems and risk perception led cargo owners and operators to look for alternatives. The volume on the Middle Corridor grew significantly during this period; however, the corridor still operates on a smaller scale than the Northern Corridor and the sea route.
Comparison of the options
| Criterion | Middle Corridor | Northern Corridor | Sea route (Suez) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mode | Rail + Caspian vessel + rail/road | Mostly rail | Container ship |
| Transhipment | Numerous (track gauge, ports) | Few | At ports |
| Number of countries crossed | Many | Few | Mostly only the countries of origin and destination |
| Main risk | Caspian capacity, transhipment delays | Sanctions and insurance | Long transit time, maritime route risks |
Bottlenecks
- Caspian crossing: Ferry and vessel capacity is limited; weather can delay sailings.
- Transhipments: The track gauge changes between 1,520 mm and 1,435 mm; port and border transhipments add time.
- Numerous customs administrations: Each country has its own transit rules; planning transit customs clearance becomes important.
- Tariffs and a single document: Separate pricing by different operators makes it difficult to set up a single end-to-end price and document.
- Port capacities: Capacity at Caspian and Black Sea ports is being expanded in line with rising demand.
For whom and when does it make sense?
The corridor stands out for shipments between China and Central Asia on one side and the Caucasus, Türkiye and South-East Europe on the other that do not want to, or cannot, pass through Russia. The advantage is clearer for containerisable cargo with regular volumes whose delivery date can tolerate a deviation of a few days. For cargo with a fixed departure date, very urgent cargo or cargo that cannot withstand transhipment, a comparison with road, sea or air freight should be made.
The road option
The Middle Corridor is not only rail. Trucks leaving Türkiye reach the Caspian coast via Georgia and Azerbaijan, cross the Caspian by ferry and arrive in Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan; details are in the entry Caspian Sea ferry crossing. Road transport towards Kazakhstan is covered in the entry Türkiye–Kazakhstan truck transport. For large-volume rail shipments, the block train structure is also worth knowing.
How does Voltim Global support you?
Voltim Global's service in this corridor is road freight: international road freight between Türkiye and the Caucasus and Central Asia is planned with partner carriers. Transit customs formalities are handled through contracted customs brokers.