Passenger train operations between Azerbaijan and Georgia are being resumed.
As is known, the movement of passenger trains abroad from our country was suspended during the coronavirus pandemic period – since spring 2020.
Next week, passenger trains from Baku to Tbilisi and back will start operating, thus opening the railway line for passenger trains in the Azerbaijan-Georgia direction.
This event has raised the possibility that our land border in the direction of Russia may also be opened.
The railway distance from Baku to Tbilisi is close to 600 kilometers. Currently, the minimal prices for one-way tickets are 81 manat for the comfort class, 117 manat for the comfort+ class, and 180 manat for the luxury class.
If passenger train operations between Azerbaijan and Russia are also resumed, what could be the ticket prices in this direction?
The railway distance from Baku to Moscow is 2450 kilometers.
The railway distance from Baku to Mineralnye Vody (Minvody) is 1000 kilometers.
The length of the railway line from Baku to Makhachkala is 390 kilometers, and to Derbent it is close to 250 kilometers.
Trips on the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route will be carried out with modern “Stadler” coaches.
If the Baku-Moscow-Baku route opens and trips are conducted with “Stadler” coaches, what could be the estimated prices?
Speaking on the topic to Medianews.az, transportation expert Aslan Asadov stated that the mentioned distances are correct, but regarding price formation, each state has established standard tariffs for lines passing through its territory, and the final price is calculated precisely based on these criteria: “For example, in organizing trips from Russian provinces such as Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, and others to Azerbaijan, price regulation directly depends on interstate agreements and the specific features of the passenger transportation process.
In railway transport, the amount of energy spent by the train along the route, as well as transit fees (infrastructure usage fees) of other states, are fully taken into account, and in the end, a unified tariff is formed.
Regarding the pricing determination by Azerbaijan, this process is regulated within the framework of regional cooperation. Currently, in addition to the existing lines between Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, direct train ticket sales to the Turkish cities of Kars and Istanbul are planned in the near future. Soon, comfortable travel in these directions by railway will be ensured. Subjective and objective factors together make up the anatomy of the price reality.
On the other hand, the current state of transportation infrastructure plays a key role in shaping discounted or standard price factors. Each country’s passenger transport infrastructure development level varies. There are countries where, due to a highly developed railway network, the cost price of tickets is lower and prices are offered more favorably (with discounts). In countries with poorly developed railway networks, the need to implement new infrastructure projects and attract additional financial resources arises, leading to relatively higher tariffs.”
Naile Qasimova,
Medianews.az