ADY Expands Wagon Fleet: Container Transportation Becomes More Flexible and Efficient

 “Azerbaijan Railways” CJSC (ADY), an AZCON Holding company, has expanded and modernized its wagon fleet through domestic investment with the purchase of 300 new freight wagons. The new additions include 200 open-top wagons and 100 universal platform wagons.

The platform wagons, with a load capacity of 72 tons and a lifespan of 32 years, are designed for high efficiency, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness in container transportation. They can accommodate both standard 20-foot and 40-foot containers. Their addition will significantly enhance ADY’s ability to meet growing demand for containerized cargo, particularly along the Middle Corridor route linking China and Azerbaijan.

Between January and July 2025, ADY received 225 block trains from China, almost double the figure recorded during the same period last year. By year-end, more than 400 block trains are expected. In just seven months, block trains transported 24,000 TEU of cargo, representing nearly a twofold increase compared to 2024.

Beyond containers, platform wagons are also suitable for transporting timber, pipes, rails, heavy equipment, and oversized cargo. Thanks to their simplified design, loading and unloading can be carried out easily from the sides and top, reducing handling time.

The newly acquired open-top wagons, with a 70-ton capacity and 85-cubic-meter volume, are designed for the transportation of bulk and special cargo, including timber, crushed stone, and construction materials. With a service life of 22 years, their open design and lack of complex mechanisms make maintenance, unloading, and repair straightforward and cost-effective. These wagons are particularly indispensable in industries such as coal, metallurgy, construction, and agriculture.

The modern wagons will be deployed across both domestic routes and international transit corridors passing through Azerbaijan, including the North-South and East-West transport corridors. Their high technical performance will allow faster and more efficient freight operations.

In response to the sustained increase in transit cargo through Azerbaijan, ADY continues to expand and renew its locomotive and wagon fleet to ensure safe and reliable transport. In April, ADY signed a contract to procure seven new locomotives and spare parts from China. In the next stage, 14 mainline locomotives will also be added to the fleet.