On 4 March 2025, the general assembly of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), the intermodal corridor widely referred to as the Middle Corridor, took place in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. Delegations from the ten countries involved in the initiative, stretching from China to Turkey, participated in the meeting, alongside representatives of railway administrations, transport companies, and government institutions. The primary objectives were to strengthen regional cooperation, enhance tariff policies, and define the operational plan for 2025. Discussions covered the results of 2024, the adoption of a joint protocol, and the signing of strategic memorandums, along with the launch of initiatives aimed at boosting digitalisation and logistical efficiency.
In 2024, the Middle Corridor experienced strong growth in intermodal traffic between the Far East, Central Asia, and Europe. The Azerbaijan Railways (AY) reported the transportation of over 18.5 million tonnes of freight through transit, import, export, and domestic transport operations throughout the year. Compared to 2023, transit freight transport increased by 5.7% to reach 7.3 million tonnes, while imports rose by 10% to 5.2 million tonnes. A total of 358 container block trains were shipped from China to Azerbaijan in 2024, a twenty-five-fold increase from the previous year.
Parallel and complementary transport routes to the Middle Corridor also saw significant development in 2024. According to data from the first eleven months of the year, freight transport along the China-Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran (CKTI) route increased by 31% compared to the same period in 2023. This growth reflects the expanding network of East-West trade routes across Central Asia and the Middle East, reinforcing the main corridor.
Among the operational aspects discussed in Baku were adjustments to approved tariffs for 2025, a draft agreement on digitalisation, and arrangements for feeder link services between Caspian Sea ports. Participants reached a consensus on the 2025 freight transport plan along the TITR and the necessary measures for its implementation, with a particular focus on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway route for container transport to Europe.
The significant rise in freight volumes along the Middle Corridor was supported by major infrastructure developments and modernisation efforts throughout 2024. One of the most notable achievements was the completion of the modernisation works on the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, which had temporarily suspended operations in May 2023, resuming on 20 May 2024. This upgrade increased the line’s annual capacity from one to five million tonnes, improving overall efficiency.
Following this modernisation, a joint venture named BTKİ Railways was established, involving subsidiaries of Azerbaijan Railways and Marabda-Kartsakhi Railway. This new entity was created to ensure efficient operations along the BTK route, attract new freight, manage the railway infrastructure of the Marabda-Kartsakhi section, and guarantee the full repayment of the loan granted to Georgia through generated revenues.
From June 2024, following the modernisation of the BTK railway line, test shipments commenced not only from the port of Xi'an in China but also from Lianyungang, one of China’s largest eastern ports. This expansion of departure points highlights the corridor’s growing integration with China’s extensive transport network and its increasing role in facilitating East-West trade.
Another key development in 2024 was the creation of an additional branch of the Middle Corridor along the eastern shore of the Caspian Sea. This new route connects China, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Turkey, integrating railways, maritime routes, and highways into a comprehensive transport network. To effectively coordinate this expanded route, participating nations gathered in Baku to discuss the formation of a collegiate body known as the Eurasian Transport Route International Association.
The development of the Middle Corridor in 2024 was marked not only by physical infrastructure improvements but also by significant advancements in digital connectivity and regional cooperation. During a ministerial round table held in Baku in November 2024, participants highlighted the role of digital innovations in streamlining transport operations along the corridor. The implementation of e-CMR and e-TIR in road transport, electronic customs documentation, and real-time data-sharing platforms were recognised as essential for improving operational efficiency.
Round table participants committed to accelerating the adoption of digital technologies while ensuring railway interoperability, which would enable better coordination among relevant authorities, smoother freight movement, and enhanced logistical, customs, and border-crossing procedures. Several pilot projects on digital data exchange between corridor countries were outlined, aiming to establish seamless and interoperable digital data flows. These initiatives are expected to reduce paper documentation, lower transport costs and emissions, and enhance connectivity, reliability, security, and resilience.
Participants also pledged to support the implementation of the United Nations Special Programme for the Economies of Central Asia (SPECA) Roadmap, which includes the standardisation of digital documents and procedures across borders. This initiative was recognised as vital for fostering seamless trade and transport connectivity.
Another initiative developed along the Middle Corridor was the Middle Corridor Multimodal joint venture, involving Georgian and Kazakh railways, which implemented a one-stop-shop approach, a stable tariff policy, and efficient transport conditions. In 2024, China Railway Container Transport Corporation (CRCT), a subsidiary of China Railways, joined this joint venture.
Looking ahead, the participants in the TITR working group meeting in March 2025 agreed on a comprehensive freight transport plan for the year, signalling continued growth and development for the Middle Corridor. Azerbaijan’s infrastructure capacity now enables the annual transport of up to one thousand block trains through its territory, setting an ambitious target for future expansion.
