Transport in Azerbaijan

The transport in Azerbaijan involves air traffic, waterways and railroads. All transportation services in Azerbaijan except for oil and gas pipelines are regulated by the Ministry of Transportation of Azerbaijan Republic.^[1]

For Soviet transportation, see Transport in the Soviet Union.

Railways

There are 2,932 km (1,822 mi) of

industrial lines.^[2]

Total: 2,932 km (1,822 mi) (2013)
Country comparison to the world: 59
Broad gauge: 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) gauge [3]

Railway links with adjacent countries

Timeline

Metro System

Currently, the only metro system in Azerbaijan is the Baku Metro, located in Baku, the country's capital. New plans to open metro systems in the most populated and developed cities of Azerbaijan were unveiled.

Sumgayit, Nakhchivan and Ganja all plan to have subway systems in the future.^[4]

Suburban Railway

Roadways

There are about 25,000 kilometres of roads in Azerbaijan, serving domestic cargo traffic and giving access to international main highways. Highways are mostly in fair condition and need an upgrade to international standards in a view to accommodate growing transit traffic. Main and rural roads are in poor condition and in urgent need of rehabilitation and maintenance. The total vehicle fleet in Azerbaijan was about 517,000 in 2004, with about 49 private passenger cars per 1,000 inhabitants, which is quite low compared to European benchmarks but rapidly increasing due to the fast economic growth. Road transport accounted for 54% of all freight in 2003, up from about 48% in 1999.

International highways

Main highways carrying international traffic are the

Nakhchivan

is made by air or by road through Iran. Nakhchivan has a 9-kilometre strategic border with Turkey.

Pipelines

BTC pipeline. It made partly obsolete the old Soviet pipeline pumping crude oil from the onshore and offshore Caspian fields near Baku west across Azerbaijan and Georgia to the port of Batumi

, where the oil is either exported in its crude form or processed at Batumi's refinery. Two natural gas lines parallel the old petroleum line as far as Tbilisi, where they turn north across the Caucasus Mountains to join the grid of natural gas pipelines that supply cities throughout Russia and Eastern Europe.

Condensate 89 km; gas 3,890 km; oil 2,446 km [5]

Ports and harbours

Sea and water cargo transportation have vital importance for Azerbaijan, especially in regions where road and rail connections are disputed. Azerbaijan has direct maritime connections only with other Caspian littoral states (Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan). However, the Volga–Don Canal provides maritime access to the high seas. The main activity is the transport of cargo, mainly of oil and oil products. Shipping regions are Caspian, Black, Mediterranean, and Marmara Seas. The main shipping company owes 72 ships, 37 of which are tankers (including 1 water carrier).

Baku International Marine Trade Port is the largest port on the Caspian Sea

. Its ferry terminal underwent a major reconstruction supported by a US$16.2 million loan from EBRD. It is now able to handle 30 million tons of freight a year. The Caspian Sea provides vital transport links with other countries and is being used to ship oil until various pipeline projects are completed.

In 2014 Azerbaijan stated it would seek to ease transportation on the Caspian Sea due to increased demand by its neighbouring states.[6]

On June 4, 2004, the Ministry of Transportation of the Republic of Azerbaijan established the Maritime Administration. As the regulatory authority in maritime transport, its functions include participating in the formulation of state policy, regulating transport demand of goods and passengers and for other types of maritime transport services, as well as implementing state programs, concepts, and projects for the development of maritime transport.

Ports and harbors:
Dubandi, Lankaran

Merchant marine

Total: 305 ships
Ships by type: general cargo 40, oil tanker 48, other 217

Country comparison to the world: 53 [5]

Airports

There are regular passenger flights between

Ganja Airport has been launched by the Government and was completed by mid-2006. In 2008, two more airports were opened in Azerbaijan. The Lankaran International Airport

is located in the southern part of Azerbaijan, Zaqatala Airport is in the north-west of Azerbaijan territory.

Airports: 37
Country comparison to the world: 107 [5]

Airports – with paved runways

Total: 30
Over 3,047 m: 5
2,438 to 3,047 m: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m: 13
914 to 1,523 m: 4
Under 914 m: 3^[5]

Airports – with unpaved runways

Total: 7
Under 914 m: 7^[5]

Heliports

Total: 4^[5]

References

This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook.
CIA
.

^ "World Investment News. V.I.P. Interviews. H.E. Mr. Ziya Mamedov". Retrieved 2010-11-18.
^ "Azerbaijan Railways". Indexmundi. 2009-12-19. Retrieved 2007-11-01.
^ "Azerbaijan Railways – Transportation". www.indexmundi.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.
^ "Good news for Baku Metro's users". azernews. Retrieved 7 January 2015.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Middle East :: Azerbaijan — The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2020-05-15.
^ "Joint venture of Azerbaijan and Turkey to operate transport on Caspian Sea". 12 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.

External links

[1] "World Investment News. V.I.P. Interviews. H.E. Mr. Ziya Mamedov". Retrieved 2010-11-18.

[Indexmundi-2] "Azerbaijan Railways". Indexmundi. 2009-12-19. Retrieved 2007-11-01.

[3] "Azerbaijan Railways – Transportation". www.indexmundi.com. Retrieved 2019-05-24.

[4] "Good news for Baku Metro's users". azernews. Retrieved 7 January 2015.

[:0-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f "Middle East :: Azerbaijan — The World Factbook – Central Intelligence Agency". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2020-05-15.

[6] "Joint venture of Azerbaijan and Turkey to operate transport on Caspian Sea". 12 January 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2015.

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