Armenian Railways
Armenia's railway network.
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| Reporting mark | HYU |
|---|---|
| Locale | Armenia |
| Dates of operation | 1992–2008 |
| Predecessor | Armenian Railways (Soviet Railways) |
| Successor | South Caucasus Railway (Russian Railways) |
| Track gauge | 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 27⁄32 in) |
| Electrification | 3 kV DC |
| Length | 845 km (525 mi) |
| Headquarters | Yerevan |
Armenian Railways (Armenian: Հայկական երկաթուղի) was a rail operator in Armenia.
The 845 km (525 mi), 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 27⁄32 in) gauge network is electrified at 3 kV DC. Now the railways in Armenia are operated by South Caucasus Railway of Russian Railways.
The railway operating environment in Armenia sharply deteriorated following the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to the World Bank, Armenian Railways was in dramatic need of major investment, including the replacement of , rehabilitation of the main line between Yerevan and the Georgian border, renewal of electrification, and bridge reconstruction. Rail transport was slow and unreliable, and traffic remained low compared to European countries with similar sized networks, amounting to only 2.6 million tons of freight and 0.85 million passengers in 2004.
At present the only preexisting rail connection between Armenia and Iran is the line which passes through the autonomous region of Nakhchivan, an exclave of Azerbaijan. However, because the border between the two countries is closed, the line from Yerevan is operational only as far as Yeraskh.
In 2007, the government of the Republic of Armenia conducted a tender process for the modernization and operation of Armenian Railways, with the intention of awarding a concession in 2008. RITES and Russian Railways qualified to bid but RITES, an Indian Railways company, later withdrew. Russian Railways was the only bidder and established South Caucasus Railway CJSC as a wholly owned subsidiary to run the former Armenian Railways.
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Wikipedia