ADY: Distribution of cargo along BTK, TRIPP to depend on market-driven demand

In the long term, the distribution of cargo along both the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway and the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP) will depend on market-driven demand, Rovshan Rustamov, Chairman of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), said in an interview with NE Global, Report informs.

Rustamov expressed full confidence that the BTK will remain the region's primary transport artery. "At the same time, TRIPP will enhance the reliability, flexibility and overall appeal of Azerbaijan's transport system in the eyes of international partners. The two corridors will not function as competitors but as parallel routes that create synergy," he noted.

He described TRIPP as a strategic complementary initiative that strengthens the objectives of the Middle Corridor. Modern global logistics, he said, requires companies to seek more diversified and resilient supply chains, and TRIPP provides an additional reliable connection with Türkiye, while BTK remains the backbone of transit along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route.

Rustamov added that whether freight moves via BTK or TRIPP, both routes continue through Kars into Türkiye and further to the country's western regions. "The Marmaray tunnel beneath the Bosphorus in Istanbul remains a key gateway for Eurasian rail transport into the European Union. This once again underscores Türkiye's strategic role as a transit country and highlights the importance of continuous investment in its railway infrastructure."

He said Azerbaijan is working closely with Türkiye to ensure smooth, efficient and demand-responsive connectivity between Kars, Istanbul and beyond.