Baku, August 21 — Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) has acquired 300 new freight cars through domestic investment, signaling a major step in modernizing its fleet and meeting rising transit demand. The purchase includes 200 open gondolas and 100 universal platforms, the company announced.
The universal platforms, with a 72-ton capacity and a 32-year service life, are designed for maximum flexibility, accommodating both 20- and 40-foot containers. Their addition comes at a time of sharp growth in containerized transport along the Middle Corridor linking China to Azerbaijan. In the first seven months of 2025, 225 block trains arrived from China — nearly double the previous year’s volume — carrying 24,000 TEU. By year’s end, ADY expects to handle more than 400 block trains.
Beyond containers, the platforms can transport lumber, pipes, rails, and other oversized cargo. Their simplified design allows for faster loading and unloading from the side or top, reducing turnaround times.
The 200 gondola cars, with a 70-ton capacity and 85 m³ volume, are intended for bulk cargo such as timber, gravel, and other construction materials. Featuring an open-top structure and minimal mechanisms, they are valued for their durability, low maintenance, and efficiency in industries ranging from mining to agriculture.
The new wagons will support both domestic transport and international transit via the North-South and East-West corridors. This expansion follows ADY’s April 2025 contract for seven new locomotives from China, with an additional 14 mainline locomotives planned in the next phase.
As cargo flows through Azerbaijan continue to surge, the modernization of the fleet underscores ADY’s strategic role in regional logistics, positioning the country as a reliable hub for Eurasian freight.
