Baku:Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) recently held a meeting with key representatives from major shipping companies, focusing on strengthening dialogue and exploring opportunities for the development of freight transportation within the country.
According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the meeting was designed to inform business partners about ADY’s achievements in freight transportation, gather their proposals, and discuss future collaborative prospects. The ADY chairman highlighted the importance of shippers in the national economy and emphasized the principles of customer focus, openness, and transparency that guide the railway’s operations.
During the meeting, participants were briefed on ongoing projects to modernize freight transportation infrastructure. Notable developments include the completion of the Sumgayit-Yalama railway line reconstruction, the upcoming transition to an alternating current power supply system, and the finished construction work at the Astara Terminal. Efforts to modernize the Baku-Boyuk Kasik line and overhaul the Alat-Osmanli-Astara line were also discussed.
The meeting covered various advancements, such as increased train speeds on the Osmanli-Astara section and the expansion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line’s capacity. Azerbaijan Railways has also made significant investments in rolling stock, with the purchase of 300 new freight wagons and the delivery of seven modern AC50 mainline freight locomotives from China. Plans to acquire additional locomotives and wagons are underway to enhance the railway network’s capacity.
Institutional and digital transformation initiatives were also key topics. ADY aims to streamline services through a single-window system under the ADY Express model, simplifying access to railway, port, and maritime transport services. Efforts are being made to digitalize freight transportation with electronic consignment notes, shipment tracking, and automated tariff calculations.
The meeting also addressed tariff policies and economic efficiency in freight transportation. Participants discussed issues such as wagon availability, delivery times, and tariff applications. The importance of maintaining open dialogue with business partners was underscored, with plans for ongoing meetings with other shippers.