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Azerbaijan rejects idea on construction of high-speed railways

14 October 2011 12:59 (UTC +04:00)

Remind that, the idea on commissioning of high-speed railways and trains were being discussed some years ago. Even one of South Korean companies presented a concrete project to the Azerbaijan side in connection with it. According to that project, it was considered to reach the speed of trains moving in direction from Baku to Georgian borders up to 180 km / h. but during the next discussions, it was decided to reject this project.

Nazirov linked it with expensiveness of the project: â€œAccording to project of Koreans, the construction of high-speed railways will cost $ 3 bln. Besides, within the framework of the current reconstruction program carried out by Azerbaijan railway, the speed of trains is considered to reach to 140 km/h until 2014 (approximate cost of the project is $ 450 mln). And it is only 40 km/h less than the speed offered by Koreans. According to Nazirov, when we take geographical size and needs of Azerbaijan into account, this speed (140 km/h) is absolutely enough: â€œThis speed allows to arrive at Ganja from Baku for 3 hoursâ€.

Moreover, Azerbaijan Railway considered economically inefficient the commissioning of electric trains in the vicinity of Baku. â€œMost of the trains used here have expired operating time. The reinstallation of a news system needs large funds. When we take these funds into account, for the economical justify of these trains, passenger fare should be in the amount of AZN 70, which is not possibleâ€.