The railways of Armenia belong to the South Caucasus Railway (a subsidiary of Russian Railways). The Armenian railway network is used for passenger and freight traffic. Passengers are transported by commuter trains and long-distance trains. The country's railways have a total length of about 725 km. Armenia is landlocked and partially located in a mountainous region. Therefore, the railway communication is of paramount importance for the economy of the state.
Characteristics of the railway sector
There are 69 operating and 4 inactive stations on the territory of Armenia. The rail network is fully electrified. Rail transport does not cover the entire territory of the country. In terms of travel speed, it is inferior to air and road transport. The main train route runs along the Yerevan - Vanadzor line, through the cities of Gyumri and Echmiadzin. The railroad trains of Armenia are characterized by significant wear and tear. There is still no full-fledged and high-quality railway communication in the country. After the transition of the Armenian railways to the South Caucasian railroad, the railway communication reached a new level. The carrying capacity and the speed of movement of the trains have increased. About 80% of the cars were repaired.
The operating stations are located in Gyumri, Yerevan and Vanadzor. Previously, the lines of the Armenian railway were under the control of the Transcaucasian Railway. The lines were partially controlled by the Azerbaijan Railway. Communication with Azerbaijan is currently not supported. The current railway crossing remains with Georgia. Permanent trains run from Armenia to Tbilisi and Batumi. The railway sector of the country is in constant development. Trains compete with cars and airplanes, although they are inferior to the latter in many respects.
Railway routes
Trains from Yerevan to Vanadzor run twice a day. Electric trains run to Yeraskh and Sevan from Yerevan in the summer. There are no direct trains from Russia to Armenia. The journey is possible only with transfers, and its total duration is 4 days. The cost of travel in this option is comparable to the price of air travel. Train tickets can be purchased at the box office or online. The website of the South Caucasian Railway ww.ukzhd.am provides up-to-date information on routes and prices. By ordering a train ticket online, it can be exchanged at the box office for a regular paper ticket. The most popular routes are from Armenia to Batumi and Tbilisi. To expand tourism opportunities, a direct branch is being built for communication with Iran.
