Two investment options have been prepared to improve safety on Azerbaijan’s main east–west railway line, APA-Economics, citing the European Investment Bank (EIB).
It was noted that the main railway line, which is more than 500 kilometers long, connects the city of Baku with the Boyuk Kesik station located on the border with Georgia. The line is also an important part of the Middle Corridor, which connects Europe and China. Built in the 1970s, the line passes through cities and villages, so there are 76 level crossings and pedestrian-animal crossings along the route. Although these crossings are used daily, they pose safety risks.
It was noted that over the past 20 months, there have been 36 collisions involving animals and 97 collisions involving people on the railway line. As a result of these incidents, 15 people have lost their lives.
For this reason, “Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC (ADY) applied to the EIB’s advisory program to assess opportunities to improve safety. As part of the project, the Eastern Partnership Connectivity Investment Mechanism (EPIC) team of the bank examined all critical crossings along the railway line. During the study, each crossing was mapped, and the intensity of use and risk levels were analyzed. The aim was to determine optimal solutions to separate train movement from people and animals.
As a result, two investment options were developed. The first option involves installing fences, constructing underground crossings for animals, and closing the eight most dangerous crossings. The cost of this project is estimated at approximately €50 million. The second option expands the same measures to cover 17 crossings. The cost of this option is estimated at about €90 million.
It is reported that the main goal of both approaches is to minimize the intersection of railway traffic with human and animal crossings, thereby preventing accidents.
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