Azernews.Az

By Nigar Abbasova

ADY Express LLC, a branch of Azerbaijan Railways providing logistics services to various industries, has recently launched freight transportation on the North-South route, Azerbaijan Railways reported.

“ADY Express has managed to implement cargo transportation on the route, regardless the fact that there is no railway traffic between Azerbaijan and Iran. Butadiene (compressed liquid gas) was transported from Iran to Russia. Transportation was carried out by means of a special container. More than 60 such containers were directed to the north through the territory of Azerbaijan,” the company reported.

Containers, which depart from Iran to Azerbaijan on cargo vehicles, are directed to Russia after being loaded on the platforms of Astara railways.

“Freights were previously transported from Iran to Russia by the sea to the port of Astrakhan. However, load carriers and vehicles registered abroad and entering Azerbaijan with transit purposes (with further transportation of freights by means of railways of Azerbaijan) were exempt from duties and highway-user tax under the presidential decree. Reduction of prices for the carriage of cargoes through the territory of the country created favorable conditions for the transportation of freights, by means of transport corridors of Azerbaijan.”

The North-South transportation corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe to South-East Asia. It will serve as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. The implementation of the project envisages linking-up of railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. Some five million tons of freight per year is expected to be transported by means of the corridor in the initial stage with the further increase to more than 10 million tons.

Along with making a great contribution to the diversification of Azerbaijan's economy the project is expected to turn the country into a major transport hub.

One of the main advantages of the project is reduction of the distance and delivery time two or threefold, as compared with other routes. Freight transportation by the sea route (through Persian Gulf – Suez Canal - the Mediterranean Sea-Baltic Sea to Helsinki) takes some 45-60 days, which North-South Corridor is expected to provide for the delivery of cargoes within 20-25 days.

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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova

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