Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) has completed the full conversion to alternating current (AC) power on the 122 km Ujar-Hajigabul section of the Baku-Boyuk Kasik railway line, with successful test runs of both freight and passenger trains already carried out.
To enhance efficiency, reduce energy consumption, and improve safety standards, communication and signalling systems along the Ujar–Hajigabul section have been modernised. As part of this upgrade, ADY introduced a Multi-Process Management (MPM) system, an advanced technology that enables signalling, communication, and control processes to operate simultaneously. This shift to centralised and modern management reduces train intervals, increases freight handling capacity, and supports safer, faster, and more reliable operations.
The switch to AC power enhances the traction capabilities of electric locomotives, allowing for higher freight volumes, increased speeds, and simplified operations, while also delivering significant energy savings and cost optimisation. Globally, AC systems form the backbone of modern railways—from Europe to China—and are widely used on mainline corridors, international routes, and high-speed networks. By adopting this system, Azerbaijan aligns its strategic rail infrastructure with global standards, preparing it for long-distance, high-capacity operations characterised by speed and stability.
With this upgrade, freight volumes are expected to grow, transport costs will decline, and transit routes across Azerbaijan will become more competitive compared to sea and road transport.
The Baku-Boyuk Kasik railway is part of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) corridor, and switching to the AC system will increase the annual freight capacity on the BTK to 5 million tonnes. This upgrade integrates the Port of Baku into the rail network, minimises time losses, and reduces logistics costs.
The project involves electrifying 502 km of lines with 25 kV, 50 Hz AC—initially supplied with direct current (3.3 kV)—between Baku on the Caspian Sea and Boyuk-Kasik on the Georgian border. Alongside the new electrification system, signalling systems are also being upgraded.
Azerbaijan Railways has already converted 254 km of the line from Boyuk-Kasik to Ujar via Gandja, with the final 127 km section from Hajigabul to Baku scheduled for completion by 2027. Upon completion, the entire Baku-Boyuk Kasik railway will operate on 25 kV AC.
This development represents more than a technical upgrade and it is a bold step that strengthens Azerbaijan’s transport infrastructure and removes one of ADY’s long-standing operational bottlenecks.
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