The Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan Railway: The New Reliable Link In The Zangezur Corridor

On August  8, during the visit of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Ilham Aliyev, to the United States at the invitation of U.S. President Donald Trump, discussions surrounding the establishment of peace relations with Armenia were regarded as a significant achievement not only for the South Caucasus republics distancing themselves from Russia, but also for other regional countries aligning with global cooperation platforms.

Following the just resolution of a conflict that lasted nearly 30 years, Azerbaijan’s leader is actively working—with strong support from the United States—to establish a constructive dialogue with Armenia, with the broader goal of bringing lasting peace to the region and advancing long-term transportation, communication, and economic ties. One of the key initiatives in this direction is the creation of connective corridors between the two countries.

Among these, the opening of the Zangezur Corridor, which would link the mainland of Azerbaijan to its exclave—the Nakhichevan Autonomous Republic—holds particular strategic and symbolic significance. This initiative could well be recorded in history as one of the first major peace projects of the 21st century.

Given that the Zangezur Corridor is expected to become a crucial segment of the Middle Corridor on the China–Europe route, the large-scale infrastructure projects being developed along this pathway are drawing considerable international attention. One such project is the newly initiated Nakhichevan-Iğdır-Kars railway, a key component of regional connectivity and integration.

This article will focus on the significance of the Nakhichevan-Iğdır-Kars railway and its role in shaping the future of regional transport and cooperation.

The Middle Corridor 

Azerbaijan’s increasing role in the Middle Corridor

In recent years, with the global economic and political events, the security of trade routes and the need to establish alternative transport corridors, especially in the Eurasian region, has become even more urgent. In this context, the Middle Corridor (Trans-Caspian International Transport Route) is under global focus. Azerbaijan, as one of the main participants in this corridor, continues to sign new projects for its expansion and strengthening. The Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway, which will continue as an extension of the Zangezur Corridor, which aims to connect Azerbaijan’s mainland with Nakhchivan, will become a bridge connecting Turkiye with Azerbaijan and, at the same time, linking Europe and Asia more securely, as a reliable tourism and trade route.

The Middle Corridor offers a shorter and safer trade route from China and Central Asian countries to Europe. Azerbaijan plays a crucial role as one of the key hubs of this route. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line, the Alyat International Sea Port, and the transportation through the Caspian Sea all contribute to enhancing the effectiveness of this corridor. Thanks to Azerbaijan’s initiatives, the infrastructure of the Middle Corridor has been strengthened over the years, and our country has become an inseparable part of this extensive transportation system. In this context, the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway, which will carry not only the trade goods between Azerbaijan and Turkey but also the hopes of people and the needs of global markets, holds significant strategic and economic importance.

Historically, the railway line in Nakhichevan, which existed since 1903 and extended to Turkiye along the Araz River, also aligns with the strategic interests of the country. The development of the Igdır province of Turkiye, which borders Azerbaijan, Iran, and Armenia, will play an important role in this regard.

With a total length of about 224 kilometers, this new railway will create opportunities for smoother and cheaper transportation of goods between Azerbaijan and Turkey, and provide faster and more comfortable travel for passengers. In the future, with 5 stations, the railway will reduce the travel time for passenger transport between Central Asia and Europe from 18 days to 12 days, with trains running at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour.

Therefore, the opening of the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway and the Zangezur Corridor are of great interest to China, which exports more than 800 billion dollars’ worth of products from the East to the West, and to the countries of the European Union to which these goods are delivered. Additionally, the reconstruction of the 177-kilometer railway line within Nakhichevan and the overall railway infrastructure will be significant events for the region.

A new geopolitical reality

The 44-day war in 2020, which put an end to the 30-year-long occupation of Garabagh by Armenia, has created a new geopolitical reality in the region. Azerbaijan has started implementing new infrastructure and green energy projects in the territories it liberated and the idea of opening new trade and transport routes on the regional communication map, especially the Zangezur Corridor, is becoming a reality.

Through this corridor, Azerbaijan aims to establish direct contact with Nakhichevan and ensure broader regional trade and transport connections. In this regard, the rapid construction works initiated in Garabagh and Eastern Zangezur after the thirty-year Armenian occupation, and the creation of a sustainable peace environment in the region, are a testament to Azerbaijan’s power and political influence, as seen in the large-scale transportation and communication projects passing through our country.

Conflicts in Eurasia: growing need for the Middle Corridor

In recent times, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, and in the Red Sea, have further emphasized the strategic importance of the Middle Corridor. The risks associated with routes passing through Russia, and the likelihood of these risks continuing, have made the Middle Corridor a safer alternative route. In this context, the new projects carried out by Azerbaijan and its partner countries, including the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway, are of great strategic importance for the region.

Strategic Importance of the Kars-Igdır-Nakhchivan Railway

The new railway project will ensure direct railway connection between Azerbaijan, Nakhichevan, and Turkiye. Currently, the railway connection between Azerbaijan and Turkey passes through the territory of Georgia. However, the completion of the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway will increase the efficiency and operational continuity of transportations. Additionally, this project has great potential not only for freight transport but also for passenger transportation in the future. Especially, the role of this railway in the development of the tourism sector will be crucial. The railway operates as an environmentally friendly and green logistics mode, and when we consider existing experiences in Europe, it can be predicted that the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway will make an important contribution to Azerbaijan’s global commitments regarding green transitions in the future. It is known that rail transport generates approximately 75% less carbon emissions compared to road transport. Therefore, the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway will play a significant strategic role in facilitating green projects in the region.

Economic benefits and regional cooperation

The Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway will not only increase the volume of freight transport in the region but will also significantly reduce transport costs, further strengthening Azerbaijan’s logistics and transit potential. Furthermore, this project will serve to expand economic relations between Turkiye, Azerbaijan, and Central Asian countries in the future. The project also holds great significance in strengthening integration within the framework of the Turkic countries. The Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway, undoubtedly, is one of the practical steps toward the opening of the Zangezur Corridor.

Although the Zangezur Corridor has not yet been fully realized, Azerbaijan and Turkiye are getting closer to their goals through alternative routes. In this sense, the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway demonstrates both the political will of Turkiye and Azerbaijan, as well as the alignment of their economic interests. In other words, besides the environmental importance of the project, its role as a political influence tool is also significant. Armenia, which insists on the non-opening of the Zangezur Corridor, will be forced to reconsider its stance and abandon its groundless territorial claims, realizing that it cannot remain outside of the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway project, which will run along its western borders.

A strategic step into the future

As seen, the Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway, which will connect Azerbaijan and Turkiye and become a part of the global transportation hub linking China and Europe, will also function as a mature ecosystem that meets the economic interests of the regional countries and opens up pathways for mutually beneficial cooperation. This railway, passing through Nakhichevan, will help Azerbaijan strengthen its role as a significant bridge linking European and Asian markets through the Middle Corridor. The Kars-Igdır-Nakhichevan railway is not just an infrastructure project; it is a strategic step toward the future. Through this route, Azerbaijan will not only connect Nakhichevan but also further strengthen its important bridge role in linking Europe and Asia, ensuring that the economic integration in the region will last in the long term..