Armenian Railway is the national rail operator in Armenia. The 845 km (525 mi), 1,520 mm (4 ft 11⅞ in) gauge network is electrified at 3 kV DC.
The operating environment has deteriorated since the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to the World Bank, Armenian Railways is in dramatic need of investments, including replacement of rolling stock, rehabilitation of the main line between Yerevan and the Georgian border, renewal of electrification, and bridge reconstruction. Rail transport is slow and unreliable, and traffic remains low compared to European countries with similar network, amounting to only 2.6 million tons of freight and 0.85 million passengers in 2004.[1]
In 2007 the government called tenders for a 30-year concession to modernise and operate Armenian Railways, expecting to award a contract in 2008. RITES and Russian Railways qualified to bid, but the Indian company withdrew. RZD was the only bidder and has set up South Caucasian Railway as a subdiary to run the railway.[2] On the 1st of June 2008 South Caucasus Railways (SCR) has officially started business operations under a concession agreement to manage Armenian Railways. In this connection, by 1 June 2008, SCR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Russian Railways, received property owned by Armenian Railways consisting of 2,000 freight cars, 58 passenger coaches, 85 locomotives and 30 electric trains. All 4,300 employees employed by Armenian Railways have retained their jobs. The concession agreement was concluded for 30 years, with a right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of operation.[3]
The operating environment has deteriorated since the collapse of the Soviet Union. According to the World Bank, Armenian Railways is in dramatic need of investments, including replacement of rolling stock, rehabilitation of the main line between Yerevan and the Georgian border, renewal of electrification, and bridge reconstruction. Rail transport is slow and unreliable, and traffic remains low compared to European countries with similar network, amounting to only 2.6 million tons of freight and 0.85 million passengers in 2004.[1]
In 2007 the government called tenders for a 30-year concession to modernise and operate Armenian Railways, expecting to award a contract in 2008. RITES and Russian Railways qualified to bid, but the Indian company withdrew. RZD was the only bidder and has set up South Caucasian Railway as a subdiary to run the railway.[2] On the 1st of June 2008 South Caucasus Railways (SCR) has officially started business operations under a concession agreement to manage Armenian Railways. In this connection, by 1 June 2008, SCR, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Russian Railways, received property owned by Armenian Railways consisting of 2,000 freight cars, 58 passenger coaches, 85 locomotives and 30 electric trains. All 4,300 employees employed by Armenian Railways have retained their jobs. The concession agreement was concluded for 30 years, with a right of extension for another 20 years after the first 20 years of operation.[3]
.jpg)
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteThe photo attached to the post actually depicts a Hungarian V63 locomotive at the capital, Budapest: http://www.benbe.hu/categories/benbeic.Hungary.Electric.V63_eng.php
You can find photos of the Armenian Railways here: http://www.railfaneurope.net/list/armenia/armenia_arm.html