2.4 Armenia Railway Assessment Overview The Armenian railway network consists of 845 km electrified line, mostly single track according to 2008 info only around 500km is still in operational condition. Currently WFP is using railroad to import commodities from Georgian Port Poti/Batumi, segment of rail road is from Border Georgia /Armenia (rail station Ayrum) to Rail station Vanadzor. From 1999 to 2008 commodities were transported till rail station in Yerevan. All lines are electrified, electric power is 3kV DC. The area is mountainous, so several of the lines are heavily graded and have very narrow curves. The rail system is roughly configured as a "Y" and has lines radiating from a central point just south of Yerevan. The northeast branch roughly parallels Route M24 to Azerbaijan. About 85 percent of all goods used in Armenia are imported by rail, and prior to the conflict with Azerbaijan, most cargo came via this rail line. Closure of the line at the international border during the early 1990s caused disruption to the Armenian economy. The southern branch of the line extends south toward the Turkish border, where it turns southeast into Nakhichevan. The conflict with Azerbaijan has stopped service on this part of the rail system. From 1994 the operative portion of the country's rail lines was the northwest branch of the "Y," which winds through the populated areas of north western Armenia before crossing into Georgia. A short spur of this line at Gyumri connects with the Turkish rail system. However, a difference in gauge with the Turkish system means that goods crossing the Turkish border must undergo a time-consuming reloading process. In 2007 the Russian Railways RZD won the tender to operate the Armenian railways for at least 30 years, for which the name South Caucasus Railway South Caucasus Railways (SCR) has officially started business operations under a concession agreement to manage Armenian Railways CJSC (ARM). In this connection, by 1 June 2008, SCR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Russian Railways RZD, received property owned by Armenian Railways consisting of 2,000 freight wagons, 58 passenger coaches, 85 locomotives and 30 electric trains A feasibility study is under way into the building of a 316 km single-track electrified railway linking the existing network with Gavar and the Iranian border at Meghri, replacing a disused line which passes through the Azerbaijani exclave of Naxcivan. Railway Overview Track gauge 1.52 m Total track distance 825 km Port to final point in or close to country (rail) In North RC station “Ayrum” connected with Georgian RC “Sadakhlo” If relevant, form this point to Capital (road) 200 km from Ayrum to Yerevan Locomotives 85 Freight wagons (covered) / size 2000 Page 1 Rail code Rail Station Distance from Poti (km) 572107 Poti 0 570008 Samtredia 68 560101 Tbilisi -Tovarnaja 318 564609 Sadakhlo 387 564702 Ajrum 391 564806 Aktala 403 564903 Alaverdi 417 565207 Tumanyan 439 565300 Vanadzor 463 565404 Spitak 483 565809 Gyumri 532 567503 Bayandur 545 566407 Agin 577 566708 Karakert 613 566801 Dalarik 620 566905 Araks 627 567005 Armavir 638 567400 Masis 672 567607 Karmir Blur 686 Page 2 Railway Companies and Consortia For information on Armenia Railway company contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Armenia Government Contact List Page 3.