📩 01/10/2023 10:37
The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) International Union General Assembly and Working Group Meeting was held in Kazakhstan on 28 September 2023.
Speaking at the meeting attended by union member railway representatives, TCDD Transportation General Manager Ufuk Yalçın pointed out that Turkey and Azerbaijan are two states and one nation, and wished God's mercy to those who lost their lives as a result of the explosion in Nagorno-Karabakh, and wished a speedy recovery to the injured, and expressed his condolences to our nation. He said:
“As TCDD Transportation, we strive for the effectiveness and efficiency of BTK and the Middle Corridor.”
“While we are strengthening our cooperation with the countries in the region towards the more effective and efficient operation of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Central Corridor, which has been serving as the international railway corridor between the Asian and European continents since October 30, 2017, we have increased our needs from flexible goods tariffs to simplified customs procedures, high-capacity wagons, As TCDD Transportation, we are making great efforts on many issues, from type to type.
I believe that we will overcome our current problems together, while providing good results with the work and solidarity we have done so far under the umbrella of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) International Union.
Baku – Tbilisi – Kars Railway Line and Central Corridor, whose position among the East-West corridors has strengthened since its opening, serves as an important transportation link not only between Asia and Europe, but also to provide transportation of Asia to the African continent and Russia to the Middle East. has come to the fore.
With the Turkey-Russia railway transportation initiated via the BTK Line, a new North-South corridor was created, allowing the transportation of different destinations and different product groups. “
Yalçın continued his words by emphasizing that the BTK line and the Central Corridor are an important transportation gateway for the continuation of trade with friendly countries, especially during the pandemic period:
“A total of 24 million 2023 thousand tons of cargo, including 65.811 TEU and conventional transportation, were transported on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line from its opening until its temporary closure on May 1, 470, due to road renewal works between Marabda-Ahılkelek.
Since the beginning of 2020, the passage of freight trains between Asia and Europe has been carried out via Marmaray, which connects these two continents uninterruptedly.
Marmaray, the “Project of the Century”, is the biggest supporter of environmentally friendly and fast transportation by saving time and energy, in addition to the economic power that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line has brought to our country in international trade.
In addition, Kars Logistics Center, which will create an important logistics center for transportation via BTK and the Central Corridor, was completed and became operational in May 2021.”
TCDD Transportation General Manager Ufuk Yalçın stated that the CIM/SMGS common transport document has started to be used as of September 10, 2021 in railway freight transportation carried out on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and the Middle Corridor, and that with the use of the CIM/SMGS common transport document, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars and He concluded his words by stating that transportation via the Middle Corridor saves both time and cost:
“Thanks to these works, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and the Central Corridor are now an important actor in the east-west railway connections.
Our country continues to make important infrastructure investments as well as tractor and trailer investments to strengthen the uninterrupted railway connection between Asia and Europe via the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway.
We believe that with the completion of the road renewal works between Marabda and Ahılkelek in a short time, the transportation rates and capacity through the Central Corridor and BTK will increase further.
However, it is important that the transportations on this line can continue as a result of long efforts, and in terms of committed transportations, the renovation works are completed as soon as possible and the BTK line is reopened to the service of our customers.
Thanks to these sincere and diligent efforts, the targeted figures will be reached in transportation from the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and the Middle Corridor.
On the other hand, with the recent signing of the "Protocol of Intent between the Republic of Turkey and the Republic of Azerbaijan on the Kars-Nakhchivan Railway Project" by our President, Mr. Erdoğan, and the President of Azerbaijan, Mr. Aliyev, our railway connections will be strengthened between our friendly and brotherly countries. I wish you good luck. “I hope our meetings will be beneficial to our country and region.”
The agenda of the General Assembly Meeting of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route International Union is; Analysis of transportation on the TITR route, approval of the revised texts of the TITR International Union Charter and the Regulation on Membership of the TITR International Union, approval of the agreement text determining the scope of cooperation and responsibilities between the parties in the organization of cargo transportation in the formation of container trains on the TITR route with the use of Feeder ships, the Caspian Sea (Aktau and Baku ( The topics included the approval of the text of the agreement on the organization of container transportation directly on the railway - water line with the use of feeder ships between Alat)) ports and the admission of new members to the TITR International Union.