The recent outbreak of the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between 🇦🇿 and 🇦🇲, which thanks to the armistice agreement now calmed down, gives cause for some research about the historic #Baku - #Yerevan railway line...
#Bergkarabach #DağlıqQarabağ #ԼեռնայինՂարաբաղ
The recent outbreak of the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between and , which thanks to the armistice agreement now calmed down, gives cause for some research about the historic #Baku - #Yerevan railway line... #Bergkarabach #DağlıqQarabağ #ԼեռնայինՂարաբաղ
The recent outbreak of the long-standing Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between and , which thanks to the armistice agreement now calmed down, gives cause for some research about the historic #Baku - #Yerevan railway line... #Bergkarabach #DağlıqQarabağ #ԼեռնայինՂարաբաղ
The line was built during the Tsarist time and operated - as far as I read - untill 1991, when after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out severely...
Back in 1984 the line was fully operational, including a direct Moscow-Baku-Tehran service.
The line was built during the Tsarist time and operated - as far as I read - untill 1991, when after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out severely...Back in 1984 the line was fully operational, including a direct Moscow-Baku-Tehran service.
The line was built during the Tsarist time and operated - as far as I read - untill 1991, when after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out severely...Back in 1984 the line was fully operational, including a direct Moscow-Baku-Tehran service.
The line was built during the Tsarist time and operated - as far as I read - untill 1991, when after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out severely...Back in 1984 the line was fully operational, including a direct Moscow-Baku-Tehran service.
The line was built during the Tsarist time and operated - as far as I read - untill 1991, when after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict broke out severely...Back in 1984 the line was fully operational, including a direct Moscow-Baku-Tehran service.
Nowadays it's split up in several sections:
🟢 Azerbaijan
🔵 Azerbaijan, but untill recently under Armenian power
🔴 Armenia
🟢 Azerbaijan, Nakhchivan exclave
🔴 Armenia
Of course the borders between regions controlled by 🇦🇲/🇦🇿 are mined no-go areas and no train runs since years.
Starting from Baku 🇦🇿, the line is nowadays operational untill Horadiz (or at least in a condition that allows trains running).
A few kilometers beyonmd Horadiz the mined and devastated no-mans land starts. The railway line was destroyed as well as all villages in this area....
Starting from Baku , the line is nowadays operational untill Horadiz (or at least in a condition that allows trains running).A few kilometers beyonmd Horadiz the mined and devastated no-mans land starts. The railway line was destroyed as well as all villages in this area....
Starting from Baku , the line is nowadays operational untill Horadiz (or at least in a condition that allows trains running).A few kilometers beyonmd Horadiz the mined and devastated no-mans land starts. The railway line was destroyed as well as all villages in this area....
Starting from Baku , the line is nowadays operational untill Horadiz (or at least in a condition that allows trains running).A few kilometers beyonmd Horadiz the mined and devastated no-mans land starts. The railway line was destroyed as well as all villages in this area....
Starting from Baku , the line is nowadays operational untill Horadiz (or at least in a condition that allows trains running).A few kilometers beyonmd Horadiz the mined and devastated no-mans land starts. The railway line was destroyed as well as all villages in this area....
On GoogleEarth images one doesn't say rails anymore, but the typical railway alignment with wide radii and thus distinguishable from typical road alignment makes it easy to follow the former railway line....
On GoogleEarth images one doesn't say rails anymore, but the typical railway alignment with wide radii and thus distinguishable from typical road alignment makes it easy to follow the former railway line....
On GoogleEarth images one doesn't say rails anymore, but the typical railway alignment with wide radii and thus distinguishable from typical road alignment makes it easy to follow the former railway line....
But at one location the alignment isn't existing anymore:
It disappeared in the water of the the reservoir created by the Iranian-built 🇮🇷 Khoda Afarin Dam (satellite photos 2007 vs 2020): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoda_Afarin_Dam
But at one location the alignment isn't existing anymore: It disappeared in the water of the the reservoir created by the Iranian-built Khoda Afarin Dam (satellite photos 2007 vs 2020): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoda_Afarin_Dam
But at one location the alignment isn't existing anymore: It disappeared in the water of the the reservoir created by the Iranian-built Khoda Afarin Dam (satellite photos 2007 vs 2020): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoda_Afarin_Dam
But at one location the alignment isn't existing anymore: It disappeared in the water of the the reservoir created by the Iranian-built Khoda Afarin Dam (satellite photos 2007 vs 2020): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoda_Afarin_Dam
But at one location the alignment isn't existing anymore: It disappeared in the water of the the reservoir created by the Iranian-built Khoda Afarin Dam (satellite photos 2007 vs 2020): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khoda_Afarin_Dam
Let's get a bit closer....this makes any thoughts about a revival of this railway line quite difficult. It would be very expensive to built a new bypass in this mountainous region...
(phooto from https://en.irancultura.it/tourism/attractions/attractions-tabriz/Azerbaijan-East-the-bridge-of-khoda-Afarin/)
Let's get a bit closer....this makes any thoughts about a revival of this railway line quite difficult. It would be very expensive to built a new bypass in this mountainous region...(phooto from https://en.irancultura.it/tourism/attractions/attractions-tabriz/Azerbaijan-East-the-bridge-of-khoda-Afarin/)
Let's get a bit closer....this makes any thoughts about a revival of this railway line quite difficult. It would be very expensive to built a new bypass in this mountainous region...(phooto from https://en.irancultura.it/tourism/attractions/attractions-tabriz/Azerbaijan-East-the-bridge-of-khoda-Afarin/)
Back in the Soviet era and now.
SSSR "Генштаб"-military map (1:100.000, sheet J38-034, 1978 edition) and opentopomap.....
Back in the Soviet era and now.SSSR "Генштаб"-military map (1:100.000, sheet J38-034, 1978 edition) and opentopomap.....
Back in the Soviet era and now.SSSR "Генштаб"-military map (1:100.000, sheet J38-034, 1978 edition) and opentopomap.....
Back in the Soviet era and now.SSSR "Генштаб"-military map (1:100.000, sheet J38-034, 1978 edition) and opentopomap.....
A few kilometers downstream another dam is (or was in 2018) under construction, and these dams are now also causing additional dispute in the region...
See
https://gagrule.net/hydrologist-comments-on-azerbaijani-aspirations-about-the-khudaferin-dam/
and
https://jam-news.net/azerbaijan-outrages-iran-builds-in-karabakh/
and
https://armenpress.am/eng/news/1031960/azerbaijan-tries-to-take-khoda-afarin-dam-under-control-to-have-leverage-on-iran-E28093-davit-babayan.html
Further upstream the "blue" section through the devastated Azerbaijan 🇦🇿territory (under 🇦🇲 power untill recently) is followed by the "red" Armenian 🇦🇲 section.
In Soviet times it must have been a beautiful train journey along the river gorge next to the Iranian border 🇮🇷
As far as I understand this region of Armenia 🇦🇲wasn't and isn't under dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
But nevertheless the railway line is dismantled, as this interesting photo report is showing:
https://www.drive2.ru/b/558294622263050872/
As far as I understand this region of Armenia wasn't and isn't under dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But nevertheless the railway line is dismantled, as this interesting photo report is showing: https://www.drive2.ru/b/558294622263050872/
As far as I understand this region of Armenia wasn't and isn't under dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But nevertheless the railway line is dismantled, as this interesting photo report is showing: https://www.drive2.ru/b/558294622263050872/
As far as I understand this region of Armenia wasn't and isn't under dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But nevertheless the railway line is dismantled, as this interesting photo report is showing: https://www.drive2.ru/b/558294622263050872/
As far as I understand this region of Armenia wasn't and isn't under dispute between Armenia and Azerbaijan. But nevertheless the railway line is dismantled, as this interesting photo report is showing: https://www.drive2.ru/b/558294622263050872/
https://puerrtto.livejournal.com/1065662.html  has some more interesting photos of #Meghri / #Մեղրի / #Мегри station and the surroundings....
Especially interesting: The photoprapher found some old train tickets and other Soviet railway documents...
https://puerrtto.livejournal.com/1065662.html  has some more interesting photos of #Meghri / #Մեղրի / #Мегри station and the surroundings....Especially interesting: The photoprapher found some old train tickets and other Soviet railway documents...
https://puerrtto.livejournal.com/1065662.html  has some more interesting photos of #Meghri / #Մեղրի / #Мегри station and the surroundings....Especially interesting: The photoprapher found some old train tickets and other Soviet railway documents...
Another interesting source is this documentary about the dismantled railway:
https://openmediahub.com/access-stories/civilnet-40km-of-the-yerevan-baku-railway-destroyed/
It's in Armenian, but an English transcript is available. As I read there, the line was built only in the 1930/40ies, and not in the Tsarist era, as I wrote before.
CivilNet 40Km of the Yerevan-Baku Railway Destroyed - OPEN Media Hub

Details: Filmed in Meghri, Agarak, Kapan and Yerevan regions of Armenia, the documentary is about the 40 km portion of the Yerevan-Baku Railway that has been demolished. CivilNet spoke to witnesses...

https://openmediahub.com/access-stories/civilnet-40km-of-the-yerevan-baku-railway-destroyed/
Further west, in the Azeri #Nakhchivan ( #Naxçıvan) exclave, the railway line is operational (also passenger trains) and partially even electrified.
For some train photos have a look at https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/2316573.html  and https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/1600725.html 
Further west, in the Azeri #Nakhchivan ( #Naxçıvan) exclave, the railway line is operational (also passenger trains) and partially even electrified.For some train photos have a look at https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/2316573.html  and https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/1600725.html 
Further west, in the Azeri #Nakhchivan ( #Naxçıvan) exclave, the railway line is operational (also passenger trains) and partially even electrified.For some train photos have a look at https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/2316573.html  and https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/1600725.html 
Further west, in the Azeri #Nakhchivan ( #Naxçıvan) exclave, the railway line is operational (also passenger trains) and partially even electrified.For some train photos have a look at https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/2316573.html  and https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/1600725.html 
Further west, in the Azeri #Nakhchivan ( #Naxçıvan) exclave, the railway line is operational (also passenger trains) and partially even electrified.For some train photos have a look at https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/2316573.html  and https://ru-railway.livejournal.com/1600725.html 
There is also a cross-border route into Iran at Culfa 🇦🇿/Jolfa 🇮🇷, which was used by the direct Moscow - Tehran service mentioned earlier in this thread....
The bogie-changing facilities (Iran uses 1435mm standard gauge) seem to be installed at Jolfa (Iran)
There is also a cross-border route into Iran at Culfa /Jolfa , which was used by the direct Moscow - Tehran service mentioned earlier in this thread....The bogie-changing facilities (Iran uses 1435mm standard gauge) seem to be installed at Jolfa (Iran)
There is also a cross-border route into Iran at Culfa /Jolfa , which was used by the direct Moscow - Tehran service mentioned earlier in this thread....The bogie-changing facilities (Iran uses 1435mm standard gauge) seem to be installed at Jolfa (Iran)
After a long break 4 years ago once again an international passenger train was launched between Nakhchivan 🇦🇿and Mashhad 🇮🇷 via Tabriz - Tehran....
See http://www.payvand.com/news/16/dec/1175.html
and https://en.mehrnews.com/news/122381/First-Nakhchivan-train-enters-Mashhad and https://en.irna.ir/news/82367803/Iran-Azerbaijan-launch-direct-train-route
After a long break 4 years ago once again an international passenger train was launched between Nakhchivan and Mashhad via Tabriz - Tehran....See http://www.payvand.com/news/16/dec/1175.htmland https://en.mehrnews.com/news/122381/First-Nakhchivan-train-enters-Mashhad and https://en.irna.ir/news/82367803/Iran-Azerbaijan-launch-direct-train-route
After a long break 4 years ago once again an international passenger train was launched between Nakhchivan and Mashhad via Tabriz - Tehran....See http://www.payvand.com/news/16/dec/1175.htmland https://en.mehrnews.com/news/122381/First-Nakhchivan-train-enters-Mashhad and https://en.irna.ir/news/82367803/Iran-Azerbaijan-launch-direct-train-route
After a long break 4 years ago once again an international passenger train was launched between Nakhchivan and Mashhad via Tabriz - Tehran....See http://www.payvand.com/news/16/dec/1175.htmland https://en.mehrnews.com/news/122381/First-Nakhchivan-train-enters-Mashhad and https://en.irna.ir/news/82367803/Iran-Azerbaijan-launch-direct-train-route
After a long break 4 years ago once again an international passenger train was launched between Nakhchivan and Mashhad via Tabriz - Tehran....See http://www.payvand.com/news/16/dec/1175.htmland https://en.mehrnews.com/news/122381/First-Nakhchivan-train-enters-Mashhad and https://en.irna.ir/news/82367803/Iran-Azerbaijan-launch-direct-train-route
This train service was already on my bucket list, but I hadn't yet the opportunity to do this trip...
At the moment the train is cancelled, but there are talks about renewing the circulation. Once circumstances permit, I'll gonna take this train... 🙃
https://freeazerbaijan.org/2020/05/13/%D0 
This train service was already on my bucket list, but I hadn't yet the opportunity to do this trip...At the moment the train is cancelled, but there are talks about renewing the circulation. Once circumstances permit, I'll gonna take this train... https://freeazerbaijan.org/2020/05/13/%D0 
This train service was already on my bucket list, but I hadn't yet the opportunity to do this trip...At the moment the train is cancelled, but there are talks about renewing the circulation. Once circumstances permit, I'll gonna take this train... https://freeazerbaijan.org/2020/05/13/%D0 
This train service was already on my bucket list, but I hadn't yet the opportunity to do this trip...At the moment the train is cancelled, but there are talks about renewing the circulation. Once circumstances permit, I'll gonna take this train... https://freeazerbaijan.org/2020/05/13/%D0 
Let's continue our journey from Baku to Yerevan. As one can expect, the railway line is interrupted again at the mined border between Azerbaijan 🇦🇿 (Nakhchivan exclave) and Armenia 🇦🇲.
(photos from GoogleEarth)
Let's continue our journey from Baku to Yerevan. As one can expect, the railway line is interrupted again at the mined border between Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan exclave) and Armenia .(photos from GoogleEarth)
Let's continue our journey from Baku to Yerevan. As one can expect, the railway line is interrupted again at the mined border between Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan exclave) and Armenia .(photos from GoogleEarth)
Let's continue our journey from Baku to Yerevan. As one can expect, the railway line is interrupted again at the mined border between Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan exclave) and Armenia .(photos from GoogleEarth)
Let's continue our journey from Baku to Yerevan. As one can expect, the railway line is interrupted again at the mined border between Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan exclave) and Armenia .(photos from GoogleEarth)
From the border village Eraskh ( #Ерасx) on the Armenian side one can reach Yerevan by train 1x daily.
The railway in Armenia 🇦🇲 was sold to @RuRailways some years ago and now operates as Южно-Кавказкая железная дорога (South Caucasian Railway).
From the border village Eraskh ( #Ерасx) on the Armenian side one can reach Yerevan by train 1x daily.The railway in Armenia was sold to @RuRailways some years ago and now operates as Южно-Кавказкая железная дорога (South Caucasian Railway).
From the border village Eraskh ( #Ерасx) on the Armenian side one can reach Yerevan by train 1x daily.The railway in Armenia was sold to @RuRailways some years ago and now operates as Южно-Кавказкая железная дорога (South Caucasian Railway).
From the border village Eraskh ( #Ерасx) on the Armenian side one can reach Yerevan by train 1x daily.The railway in Armenia was sold to @RuRailways some years ago and now operates as Южно-Кавказкая железная дорога (South Caucasian Railway).
From the border village Eraskh ( #Ерасx) on the Armenian side one can reach Yerevan by train 1x daily.The railway in Armenia was sold to @RuRailways some years ago and now operates as Южно-Кавказкая железная дорога (South Caucasian Railway).
What can we expect for the future? Well, the recent armistice agreement gives at least a little hope...
http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64384
However, I still can't imagine that an Azeri 🇦🇿passenger train once again travels peacefully through Armenian 🇦🇲 territory on a rebuilt line...
What can we expect for the future? Well, the recent armistice agreement gives at least a little hope... http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64384However, I still can't imagine that an Azeri passenger train once again travels peacefully through Armenian territory on a rebuilt line...
What can we expect for the future? Well, the recent armistice agreement gives at least a little hope... http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/64384However, I still can't imagine that an Azeri passenger train once again travels peacefully through Armenian territory on a rebuilt line...
For the moment one has to be lucky, if some kind of stable peace can be ensured in this area....
I'm afraid that a normal, friendly relationship between 🇦🇿and 🇦🇲, which would be needed for such an big railway infrastructure project, is very far way nowadays...
Some years ago a study about the economic perspectives of a rehabilitation of this line was concluded...
It can be found here:
https://www.international-alert.org/sites/default/files/Caucasus_RailwaysRehabilitationPt2_EN_2013.pdf
For the moment we have to look back to the Soviet times and the report at https://zen.yandex.ru/media/yapet/passajirskii-poezd-657658-baku--erevan-5f1132935634f7312207c75a
For the moment we have to look back to the Soviet times and the report at https://zen.yandex.ru/media/yapet/passajirskii-poezd-657658-baku--erevan-5f1132935634f7312207c75a
For the moment we have to look back to the Soviet times and the report at https://zen.yandex.ru/media/yapet/passajirskii-poezd-657658-baku--erevan-5f1132935634f7312207c75a
🎶🎵
Finally, let's listen to a nice Soviet song about the "skorij poezd Yerevan - Baku" and hope that it may once run again and connect the people of 🇦🇲 and 🇦🇿:
Oh, and if you to follow the line on GoogleEarth, you can download my kmz-File here:
https://filehorst.de/d/dzFhtFlt 
Allthough a different route and a time this #FensterAuf video in a traditional #Ammendorf car with great tatak-tatak sound gives you an impression how a train trip might have been there in the Soviet times.... I could listen to it for hours 🙃😇
Let's go back to the water reservoir problem, where the old alignment of the Baku - Yerevan line isn't available anymore. This is an idea how a new bypass could be built there. The topography seems not that bad, some tunnels up to 3-4 km would be needed though....
Update: Turkey 🇹🇷and Azerbaijan 🇦🇿now announced the reconstruction of the railway line transiting Armenia 🇦🇲and linking Naxçıvan with the rest of Azerbaijan. https://rayhaber.com/2021/01/nahcivan-turkiye-demiryolu-insasi-basliyor/
Nahçıvan Türkiye Demiryolu İnşası Başlıyor

Nahçıvan Türkiye Demiryolu İnşası Başlıyor | Azerbaycan, Nahçıvan ve Türkiye'ye yönelik lojistik bir hat için Ermenistan sınırından geçecek demiryolu inşa edileceğini duyurdu. Millî Savunma Bakanı

https://rayhaber.com/2021/01/nahcivan-turkiye-demiryolu-insasi-basliyor/
Google-Translation here....
You can follow @vorortanleiter.
Tip: mention @twtextapp on a Twitter thread with the keyword “unroll” to get a link to it.

Latest Threads Unrolled:
Those who think consciousness raising & movement building are disconnected, or even a distraction from electoral politics have not paid attention to the history of social change.In this thread, we
Read more
The 2020s will be known as the Remote Work decadeA few predictions of what is likely to emerge[ a thread ] Third Space: Office and Working from Home will
Read more
1/29: Have you ever had a concept explained to you that helps frame complex issues you’ve been wrestling with and opens your eyes to new possibilities? A concept that I
Read more
By continuing to use the site, you are consenting to the use of cookies as explained in our Cookie Policy to improve your experience.