Border Crossings: Georgia - Turkey

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(Tbilisi - Marabda - Akhalkalaki -) Kartsakhi RK - Karakale TCDD (- Mezra - Kars)

[D] This 105 km, 1435 mm gauge line runs from a junction east of Akhalkalaki (RK) to Mezra (TCDD), 13 km east of Kars. 29 km are in Georgia and 76 km in Turkey. There are gauge changing facilities near Akhalkalaki. It reestablishes a rail link between Azerbaijan and Turkey through Georgia following closure of the (Kars -) Dogukapi - Ahuryan (- Tbilisi) line in July 1993, when Turkey closed its border with Armenia. The line was ceremonially opened on 30 October 2017. Freight services carrying containers started the following day. The first through freight, changing bogies at Akhalkalaki, ran on 26 June 2018. Through passenger services will follow but delivery of the rolling stock will start only in March 2019.

See also