Cargo towards Georgia will down by 25-30%

In case of Armenian-Turkish border opening, within 2 days the route between Gyumri and Kars will be imposed. Akhuryan station is already cleaned from out-of-use trains; and border patrol checkpoints are preparing to be built, told South Caucasus Railway Company’s first deputy director Marat Khakov.

He noted that it would take 15-25 km/h to drive through this district which has 9 kilometers length.

Mr. Khakov said that a logical center would be opened at Armenian-Turkish board.

“An agreement with a company is already reached and we are working on project,” he said, adding that border's restoration is expected in October.

“We will have somewhat different technology of cooperation with Turkey because its rolling stock differs from Russian, and Armenian rolling stock because of its sizes and technology is not ready for traveling to Turkey.”

Cargo will be transferred from Turkish trains into Armenian trains and vice versa.

Mr. Khakov also announced that the SCR hasn’t negotiated with Turkey so there is no information about Turkish railway condition.

“If the border is opened then cargo towards Georgia will down by 25-30%. Preliminary calculations show that weight of Gyumri-Kars cargo will be 1-2 million tones.”