Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb.5
By Leman Zeynalova – Trend:
Azerbaijan’s participation in the Viking international intermodal freight logistics project is a positive development, as it enables to attract cargo flows from Central Asia and China via TRACECA corridor, a source in Lithuanian Railways JSC told Azernews.
"We appreciate and positively assess the accession of Azerbaijan railways and its operator Karvan Logistics to the Viking project. In addition, the Azerbaijan railways launched an initiative on the possible cargo transit to Iran. We hope that it will be a win-win partnership and new routes will be opened," said the source.
The company representative pointed out that unfortunately, until today, containers do not run on the route to Azerbaijan, but taking into account the new plans on launching Iran route, it will be a great opportunity for Azerbaijan in terms of new transit flows.
"This year the project will celebrate 15- year anniversary. Lithuania, Belarus and Ukraine remain the main parts of the project, but the new flows from the other countries are expected," the source said.
Moreover, it is planned to connect Viking project to the Trans-Caspian international transport routes (TITR), according to the source.
Piggyback VIKING Train is a joint project of Lithuanian, Ukrainian and Belarusian Railways, stevedore companies and ports of Klaipeda, Illichivsk and Odessa. The route crosses Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania and links the network of sea container lines of Baltics and the Black seas, Mediterranean and Caspian seas. The regular runs were launched on February 6, 2003.
In 2016, Azerbaijan signed a protocol on the Azerbaijan Railways' joining the international railway project 'Viking'.
By using the route of Viking train, its clients have an opportunity of saving up to 46 percent of their funds comparing to other types of transportation and at the same time have a guaranteed time of cargo delivery.
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