Rail transport in Azerbaijan is operated by the national state-owned railway company Azerbaijan Railways (). The railway network consists of , its gauge is (Russian broad gauge), are double track and are electrified at 3 kV (3,000 V) DC.
Azerbaijan's location and infrastructure have contributed to the vibrant transport sector of the country. Railways take up 16.7% of Azerbaijan's freight traffic flows. Throughout 2005–2009, a massive railway modernisation programme was initiated. Expansions costing $795 million were announced in 2012 to respond to the growing demand for rail transport in the country. Also Stadler Rail and local partner International Railway Distribution LLC announced the formation of a 51:49 joint venture on July 17, 2014.
History
Russian Imperial Railways 1878–1917
The first railway line in Azerbaijan then belonging to the Russian Empire was laid in 1878 and was opened in 1880 within the suburban range of Baku, which led from Sabunçu to Suraxanı, today situated within the city of Baku. The track width corresponded to the Russian gauge.
The first long-distance railway line was opened in 1883, which led from Baku to Tbilisi in Georgia.
In 1900 railway lines were opened which connected Baku via Biləcəri with Derbent and Petrovsk (Makhachkala) in Dagestan and thus connected Azerbaijan with the rest of the Russian Empire (and later the Soviet Union).
In 1908 with an extension of the railway line from Ararat in Armenia to Şərur and Julfa in the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan, this part of Azerbaijan was connected with Armenia.
Thus the development of the Azerbaijani Railway was for the time being considered final.
Soviet Railways 1917–1991
After the collapse of the Russian Empire and the Russian Revolution, the country was transformed into the Soviet Union and the Russian Imperial Railways into the Soviet Railways.
Due to the availability of electricity from the vast water power sources of Azerbaijan, the very early electrification of the railway lines of Azerbaijan began. In 1926 with the electrification with 1.2 kV (1,200 V) direct current of the railway line between Baku and Sabunçu, it became the first electrically operated railway line of the Soviet Union. Later electrifications took place with 3 kV (3,000 V) direct current.
In 1924 the railway line was extended southwards to Ələt and Neftçala.
In 1941 the railway line was extended from Horadiz and Mincivan through Armenia including a railway line extension to Kapan, to Julfa in the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan. Thus the Nakhchivan exclave of Azerbaijan was finally connected with Azerbaijan proper.
In 1941 the railway line was also extended southwards to Astara, Azerbaijan at the southern border with Iran.
In 1944 the railway line was extended to Kətəlparaq, Ağdam and Stepanakert (Xankəndi).
Until 1991 the railway traffic was operated in Azerbaijan by the Soviet Railway under the supervision of the Soviet Traffic Ministry. The Azerbaijani branch of the Soviet Railways was divided into three departments of Baku, Gəncə and Nakhchivan City.
Azerbaijan Railways (Azərbaycan Dəmir Yolları) 1991–
With the independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan in 1991, the Azerbaijan State Railways (Azərbaycan Dövlət Dəmir Yolları) was formed the same year.
Azerbaijan Railways CJSC
Azerbaijan Railways Closed Joint Stock Company was established by a reorganisation of the Azerbaijan State Railway in 2009. The Company includes Transportation Processes Management Union, Passenger Transportation Production Union, Locomotive Production Union, Carriage Service Production Union, Road Production Union, Power Supply Production Union, Indication and Communication Production Union, Militarised Enforcement Organization, Nakhchivan Department and other enterprises.
The international network serves Russia (Baku–Moscow, Baku–Saint-Petersburg, Baku–Rostow, Baku–Tumen, Baku–Mahachkala), Ukraine (Babu–Kiev, Baku–Xorkov), Georgia (Baku–Tbilisi). Domestic routes are Baku–Kocherli–Balaken, Baku–Astara–Horadiz, Baku–Kazakh–Boyuk Kesik, Baku–Agstafa, Baku–Gandja, Baku–Mingechevir, and Baku–Astara routes.
Network
So far 2,932 km of rail tracks including 2,117 km of carrier service lines, 810 km of industrial lines have been laid in Azerbaijan. In 1988, during the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, territories of Azerbaijan with 240 km of rail tracks were occupied by Armenia. The railway link connecting the city Nakhchivan of Azerbaijan with other Azerbaijani regions was broken in 1991.