BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 21. Azerbaijan Railways CJSC, part of the AZCON Holding group, has purchased 300 new wagons using internal investment funds to modernize and expand its fleet, Trend reports via the company.
The new wagons include 200 half-wagons and 100 universal platform wagons.
“The platform wagons have a carrying capacity of 72 tons and a service life of 32 years. They provide an efficient and flexible solution for container transport, compatible with both 20- and 40-foot containers. Increasing platform wagons in the company’s fleet will help meet rising demand for container shipments, particularly along the Middle Corridor between China and Azerbaijan. In the first seven months of 2025, 225 block trains arrived from China, nearly double the volume recorded during the same period last year. By year-end, the number of block trains is expected to exceed 400. Overall, 24,000 TEU of cargo has been transported by block trains in the first seven months, representing nearly a twofold increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Platform wagons are engineered to accommodate a diverse array of
payloads, including timber, pipes, rails, and both heavy and
oversized cargo. Their streamlined configurations facilitate
lateral and vertical access for loading and unloading, thereby
optimizing operational efficiency and minimizing turnaround
times.
Half-wagon gondola configurations are optimized for the transport
of voluminous or uniquely contoured freight, encompassing timber,
aggregate materials, and various construction substrates.
Boasting a payload threshold of 70 tons, a volumetric capacity of
85 cubic meters, and an operational lifespan extending to 22 years,
these wagons exemplify superior reliability and economic viability
for bulk logistics solutions. Their open-top architecture, coupled
with the elimination of intricate mechanisms, streamlines
maintenance, unloading, and repair processes, rendering them
essential for sectors such as coal, metallurgy, construction, and
agriculture.
The newly engineered freight wagons, adhering to stringent
technical specifications, are poised for deployment in domestic
logistics as well as transitory operations along the North-South
and East-West international corridors traversing Azerbaijan,
facilitating expedited and optimized operational efficiencies.
In response to the ongoing growth of transit cargo along these international routes, Azerbaijan Railways continues to modernize and expand its locomotive and wagon fleet to ensure safe and reliable transport. In April 2019, the company signed a contract to acquire 7 new locomotives and spare parts from China, with the next phase set to add 14 mainline locomotives to the fleet,” the company noted.
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