Developments at Georgian Railway

Feature Developments at Georgian Railway

Teimuraz Gorshkov and George Bagaturia

proposed in the 1830s when it was it was shipped to world markets. The last History of Georgian Railway realized that a railway from Poti on the major line between Georgia and Armenia Black Sea to Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia) was opened in 1899. Georgian Railway (GRW) Ltd. is located could carry a great deal of the trade Rapid development of Georgian industry in the South Caucasus at a key point on between northern Iran and Europe, and agriculture between 1924 and 1940 the ancient Silk Road between Europe and especially since it would be only half as was followed by construction of new Asia (Fig. 1). The Silk Road was more than long as a railway through Turkey. branch lines throughout the Georgian a trade route—it was a conduit for Construction of the first Trans-Caucasus regions. A connection with the Russian exchange of knowledge and culture that line started in 1865 and the first passenger railway network was begun during WWII contributed to the development of all train from Poti arrived at Tbilisi on 10 and opened in 1946 despite the war. countries in the region. Today’s GRW October 1872, marking the birth of GRW. Completion of the network between Baku, network has a similar function to the Silk The first trains covered the 310-km Tbilisi, and Batumi had a positive effect Road by serving as a transport artery journey in 15 hours. The next 20 years on the economies of Georgia and the linking the Black and Caspian seas. It is saw construction of the main line through South Caucasus. In the 1870s, Batumi the backbone of the Georgian economy, west Georgia and the difficult mountain was a major exporter of wool, cotton, but, most importantly, it is the shortest rail double-track Tsipa Tunnel linking east and lumber, silk cocoons, and manganese, route between Europe and Central Asia west Georgia was completed in 1890. vividly showing the importance of the and a main part of the Eurasian Trade In 1883, the line was opened between GRW to the Georgian Treasury. In Corridor or so-called New Silk Route. Tbilisi and Baku (the capital of Azerbaijan) addition to trade and freight, a tourist line The idea of building a railway connecting to carry oil from the Caspian oilfields to was built in 1894 to the Borjomi Gorge, a the Black and Caspian seas was first the Georgian port of Batumi from where beauty spot famed for its forests, resorts

Figure 1 Geography of Caucasus Region

RUSSIA

UKRAINE

KAZAKHSTAN ROMANIA Odessa IlicheIlichevskvsk Constanta

Varna BULGARIA Novorossiysk Burgas Black Sea Sochi GREECE Tashkent Istanbul Poti

Aegean Sea GEORGIA UZBEKISTAN Batumi Tbilisi AZERBAIJAN Baku Kars Turkmenbashi ARMENIA TURKEY TURKMENISTAN Chardzhou Caspian Ashkhabad Sea

IRAN AFGHANISTAN

Gagra RUSSIA Ochamchire Sokhumi GEORGIA Makhachkala Jvari Tkibuli CASPIAN SEA Chikha Tskhaltubo Kutaisi Senaki Tskhinvali Pioni Telavi Khashuri Gori Poti Samtredia Gurjaani Derbent BLACK SEA Zestaphoni Tbilisi Borjomi TsnoriTsnori Belakan Ozurgeti Bakuriani Kazreti Dedoplistskard Batumi Vale Akhalkalaki Agstafa Tovuz Khanlar SabSabunchiunchi Evlakh Guhri Kyurdamir BaladjarBaladjarii Baku TURKEY ARMENIA Ketabek Gazimagomed AZERBAIJAN Alyat AlibairAlibairamlyamly

Shusha Yerevan Existing double track

Existing single track

Main stations NachiceNachicevanvan Mindzivan

IRAN Astara (Georgian Railway) and mineral water. The narrow-gauge line requires about 5000 major engineering automatic blocks, centralized signalling, was extended in 1901 from Borjomi to structures such as breakwaters, flood and train radio came into use. Modern Bakuriani, a winter sports resort. Another banks, embankment protection, snow transport demands have seen the line was completed in 1915 through the fences, etc. upgrading of communications and famous Georgian wine-producing The first FERLI class steam locomotives signalling infrastructure to international heartland to Kakhety. were replaced by E and SU class steam standards. For example, copper cables locomotives in 1923. General Electric have already been replaced by fiber optics S-10 class electric locomotives entered on some lines in west Georgia and the Characteristics of GRW service on 16 August 1932 when some computer network is being expanded lines were electrified. All GRW lines, under the guidance of the Information- Generally, the topography of Georgia including the Borjomi–Bakuriani narrow- Computing Centre of the Georgian presents railway engineers with difficult gauge line, were finally electrified in Railway. This will greatly improve the challenges; the 1538 km of tracks run November 1967. quality of railway management. through 45 tunnels and across 1716 large Modern VL-10 and VL-11 class At present, GRW consists of three and small bridges with a total length of locomotives built by Tbilisi Electric management departments that handle all 40.3 km. Some lines are subject to very Locomotive Works began operations in business operations, 115 freight stations, severe climate conditions and the 1974. Negotiations are presently in eight locomotive depots, four wagon Marabda–Akhalkalaki section in south progress with ADtranz of Germany to repair depots, 11 track branch depots, Georgia crosses a pass at over 2200 m build modern high-speed locomotives for seven power substation depots, five above sea level. By contrast, Poti Station GRW. communications centres, locomotive and is the lowest place in the network at 6 m Introduction of modern communications carriage works, railway police offices, etc. above sea level. This complex topography and signalling started in 1946 when The rolling stock includes 250 electric

Borjomi–Bakuriani narrow-gauge line (1902) (Georgian Railway) Tsipa Tunnel (4 km, 777 m above sea level) (Georgian Railway)

locomotives, about 200 diesel contrast to the days of the former Soviet Commonwealth of Independent States locomotives, over 16,000 wagons (3478 Union when the GRW was described as (TACIS) programme, as well as agreements covered, 5207 open, 1433 tankers, 769 the ‘Deadlock Way’. between countries in central Asia and the refrigerated wagons, etc.). Trans-Caucasus region, have resulted in The existing GWR track and rolling stock revival of the Eurasian Transport Corridor capacities can handle 60 trains each day, New GRW Role (EATC). EATC is the shortest, safest and corresponding to 40 million tonnes of potentially cheapest route between freight each year. Notwithstanding the Lately, the political and economic maps Europe and Asia and is already seeing civil unrest since Georgia’s independence of Europe and Asia have seen huge good results with continuous growth in from the USSR in 1991 and despite changes and one important result is the freight traffic, especially container economic difficulties in the transition from European Union (EU) programme on the transport. For example, Mitsubishi a socialist planned economy to a market New Silk Route, or TRACECA (Transport Corporation is building a modern economy, GRW has still managed to Corridor Europe–Caucasus–Asia). container berth at Poti to handle up to provide Georgia with nationally important Support from the EU within the framework 300,000 containers each year. The freight transport services (Table 1) in stark of the Technical Assistance for the political stability of Georgia and the

Table 1 Georgian Railway Statistics

Year 1985 1990 1993 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Route-km 1,465 1,583 1,583 1,575 1,575 1,575 1,575 1,575 Electrified route-km 1,465 1,583 1,583 1,575 1,575 1,575 1,575 1,575 Freight tonnage (thousand tonne) 63,881 53,861 7,966 4,656 4,784 7,231 8,494 9,492 Passenger-km (million) 4,214 2,497 1,003 371 380 294 397 355 No. of electric locomotives 317 338 297 237 227 225 224 218 No. of diesel locomotives 209 233 219 202 185 182 182 175 Total No. of employees 34,753 32,919 25,077 18,420 18,407 17,773 16,495 15,814 Employees in railway operations 22,995 21,354 18,872 13,752 13,505 13,438 12,790 12,404

(Georgian Railway)

Agricultural products 10 9.4 9 8.5 Building materials 9.89% 8 7.2 7.72% 7 Metal products 6 6.56% 5 4.7 4.8 1999 7.31% 4 Mixed freight 68.52%

(Million tonnes) 3 2 Oil products 1 0 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

(Georgian Railway) (Georgian Railway)

assistance of various European example of this change. Another example Chardzhou–Ashkhabad–Turkmenbashi programmes have resulted in the EATC is the containerized Logistic Express, (Krasnovodsk)–Baku–Tbilisi–Poti route drawing traffic from other transport which started operations in 1996 between through Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, corridors. Georgia and Azerbaijan and fully meets Azerbaijan to Georgia. On 25 June 1997, The conversion of GRW in 1998 to a the needs of modern trans-shipment. the 3rd Pan-European Transport limited company handling through freight The most effective way of shipping freight Conference in Helsinki recognized the between Asia and Europe only became between Poti (in Georgia) and Tashkent corridor across Georgia as an official part possible after the breakup of the USSR, (in Uzbekistan) would be to run regular of the Pan-European Transport Corridors and the TRACECA project is a good container services on the Tashkent– and this recognition will help attract freight to TRACECA. It is also most important for the GRW network to have tight links with ferries across the Black Sea. A joint Georgian- Ukraine company called Eurasian Transport Co., Ltd. has already been established for this purpose and regular railway ferries between Poti and Ilichevsk (Ukraine), and Batumi and Ilichevsk are helping open the two countries to the rest of the world. Some practical achievements of TRACECA are the Poti–Varna (Bulgaria), Poti–Burgas (Bulgaria)–Novorossiysk (Russian Federation), Poti–Odessa (Ukraine), Batumi–Varna (Bulgaria) and Poti–Sochi (Russian Federation) ferry services. Container services are also running between Piraeus (Greece) and Poti, Gioia Tauro (Italy) and Poti, Istanbul Crude oil tankers en route through Georgia (Georgian Railway) and Poti, and Antwerp (Belgium) and Poti.

Work is underway to establish railway establishing uniform legislation, etc. match the European requirements for ferry services between Poti, Ilichevsk and Some of these requirements have already intermodal transportation thanks to the EU Varna, and Batumi, Ilichevsk and Varna been completed, such as the Logistic assistance with the TRACECA programme. (1520 km), and Poti and Constanta Express container train that started The eight initial participants of (Romania 1435 km)—a railway ferry operations in November 1996 between Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, terminal has been constructed at Poti for Poti and Baku. Kirghizia, Tadjikistan, Georgia, these services. Azerbaijan, and Armenia have recently In the very near future, construction of a Integration into Eurasian been joined by Ukraine, Mongolia and new international line is planned between Rail Network Moldova. Tbilisi and Kars (Turkey) and this will help The main purposes of the TRACECA revive the economy of southern Georgia. A main task of GRW is to integrate the programme are as follows: Proper transport flows require Eurasian transport networks. Georgia • Support political and economic development of multidirectional corridors already has good relations with the EU independence throughout the region and the governments of Turkey and and Central Asia and there is great interest and accelerate integration into the Georgia consider this project to be one of in linking TRACECA with European European and world markets using the most important for the long-term Transport Corridors I, VII, VIII, and IX. railways as an alternative to road interests of the entire region near the Black Both political and practical steps are being transport Sea, Caucasus and Central Asia. taken towards this end. For example, • Strengthen regional cooperation Geopolitical conditions are a very Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan • Use the TACIS programme of the EU important part of railway passage and the and Georgia have signed agreements on as a catalyst to attract support from great traditions and unique cultural-social freight transport, and Ukraine, Georgia international financial institutions and conditions of Georgia can play a role in and Azerbaijan have reached an private investors this process of reviving a New Silk Road. agreement on transit passage. Strategic freight including oil from the Establishment of effective transport links GRW is also developing infrastructure for Caspian and Turkmenistan oilfields, cotton between Europe and Asia requires containerized and bulk freight in from Uzbekistan, grain, etc., is already extensive research into forecasting accordance with international being carried, and 1.5-million-tonne grain regional transport demand; establishing requirements. Terminals at Batumi, Poti silos are being constructed at Poti, along multimodal transport systems; optimizing and Tbilisi have been modernized for 20- with a terminal for 200,000 containers infrastructure in Georgia and other and 40-foot containers and the yards can and large warehouses. TRACECA members; arranging efficient, handle up to 10,000 units per month. April 1999 marked the opening of the Poti/ fast and transparent customs procedures; In general, the system specifications Batumi–Ilichevsk–Varna railway ferry,

Tbilisi passenger station (Georgian Railway) Tbilisi passenger station concourse (Georgian Railway)

46 Japan Railway & Transport Review 24 • July 2000 Copyright © 2000 EJRCF. All rights reserved. giving added urgency to the need for phase of serious restructuring as outlined due to the growth in container traffic. All better infrastructure as part of the direct in the 1999 Georgia Development Plan. these works will be financed from GWR’s link between Trans European Network This restructuring offers the new company operating revenues. Rehabilitation of corridor IX and Georgia. Furthermore, this a chance to become more efficient in a signalling systems will be financed using ferry service is an extension of corridors market-driven economy by creating a credits worth US$20 million from the IV, VII and VIII to Poti, establishing a link market-oriented freight management and EBRD, grants of US$5 million from the with the industrialized centres of Western marketing infrastructure. EU, and local funds. These advanced and Central Europe. As a result, there is a New organizational structures are being signalling systems will help increase train serious and urgent need to bring the GWR created and new railway legislation will speed and service reliability. management and marketing infrastructure soon be presented to the Georgian The EU is also providing US$1.2 million into line with the European system. The parliament based on research by the UK towards infrastructure for the Georgian– urgency is also greater because Georgia consulting engineers GIBB of the Azerbaijan railway. has become a member of the European LAWGIBB Group and financed by the A joint venture on TALGO automatic Council. TACIS programme and World Bank. gauge-changing axles is planned in the As part of this integration, the European The final research report noted that GWR near future at the Tbilisi Electric Bank for Reconstruction and still requires massive investment in Locomotive Works with the Spanish Development (EBRD) has provided a infrastructure as well as modernization of company Patentes Talgo SA. The EU has US$6 million grant to rehabilitate the its management structure. also allocated US$0.7 million to support GRW signalling and communications The report particularly noted the need for rehabilitation of rolling stock and US$ 1.5 systems with optical fiber technology. reorganization of passenger operations so million for establishing international Now that the Tbilisi–Kars line connecting that international trains stop only at major timetables and tariffs. Georgia with Turkey has been built, China stations, thereby reducing journey times. In the last year or two, the Georgian will be able to connect directly with the As part of the renewal, long-distance Ministry of Transport has organized a TRACECA route when construction of a passenger transport will be restructured, series of international conferences and line to the Kirghizia border is completed, carriages and rolling stock will be working meetings to promote integration cutting the journey distance from Asia to updated, telephone services will be added of Georgia into the international transport Europe by 50%. to passenger trains, and stations will be network, and in particular to strengthen renovated. The consulting engineers also railway cooperation. I recommended rationalizing local services GRW Investment and closing some stations, but such closures will likely be minimized in view To improve GWR freight services, studies of government policy. on marketing strategy are required, Although GWR freight traffic has already especially benchmarking, analysis of achieved a degree of success, some economics, new services, organizational modernization of cargo handling systems model, budget, target market, inventory is required and necessary equipment will management, etc. be added to serve both mixed and bulk After the state-owned GRW became a freight trains. The container yards at Poti limited company in 1998, it entered a and Tbilisi are being expanded and rebuilt

Teimuraz Gorshkov George Bagaturia

Dr Gorshkov joined Georgian Railway Ltd. as Assistant General Dr Bagaturia is Academic Secretary at the Georgian Branch of the Director of Marketing in April 1999 after working for the Georgian International Academy of Computer Sciences and Systems International Oil Corporation. He is a graduate of the Moscow Institute specializing in personnel training. He is a graduate of the Moscow of Complex Transport Problems. Institute of Power Engineering.