Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan discussed the development and management of Armenia’s railway system with Russian Railways CEO Oleg Belozyorov. Following the meeting, the sides agreed to establish a joint working group within a short timeframe to review the issues identified, propose possible solutions and determine the next steps.
According to the government, the talks focused on improving the competitiveness of Armenia’s railway system, opportunities for integration into international transport networks and problems linked to the current management structure. The sides also reviewed prospects arising from broader regional developments.
The discussion covered plans to reconstruct the Gyumri-Akhurik-Turkish border and Yeraskh-Nakhichevan railway sections, along with the opportunities their implementation could create. Pashinyan said that, if regional transport infrastructure and connections reopen, the Armenian government wants to make the country’s railways competitive and integrate them into the networks of neighboring states and the wider international system.
The meeting also examined infrastructure development carried out during the concession management of South Caucasus Railway CJSC, the effectiveness of that management, existing challenges and possible ways to address them.
Armenia’s railway infrastructure has been managed by a Russian company under a concession agreement since 2008. The operator is South Caucasus Railway CJSC, a subsidiary of Russian Railways. The concession runs for 30 years, with an option to extend it by another 10 years.
Pashinyan has repeatedly raised the issue of Russian management of Armenia’s railways in recent months. Earlier, he proposed selling the concession rights to manage the system to a third country acceptable to both Armenia and Russia, arguing that international sanctions imposed on Russia have reduced the interest of investors and freight operators in infrastructure managed by a Russian company.
