Türkiye, Armenia advance key railway revival amid thawing ties

KARS

Türkiye and Armenia have taken a new concrete step toward rehabilitating and reopening the long-closed Kars–Gyumri railway, with an April 28 meeting of a joint working group to coordinate technical preparations.

According to official statements, representatives from both countries met in the Turkish eastern province of Kars on April 28 to discuss the restoration of the cross-border line.

The group will work on infrastructure assessments and technical requirements needed to reactivate the railway, with the aim of advancing preparations even before full political normalization is achieved.

The talks were held within the framework of the broader Türkiye–Armenia normalization process, which began in 2021 with the appointment of special envoys by both sides. Officials emphasized that reopening the Kars–Gyumri corridor is a priority for improving regional transport connectivity and boosting economic ties in the South Caucasus.

However, no timeline or detailed technical roadmap for reopening the line was announced.

The Kars–Gyumri railway, originally built in 1899, once served as a key Soviet-era connection and the only direct rail link between Türkiye and Armenia before it was shut down by Ankara in 1993 amid tensions over the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict.

Recent diplomatic momentum has also included limited border and aviation openings, such as the agreement to allow third-country nationals and diplomatic passport holders through the Alican–Margara crossing, as well as the launch of direct Istanbul–Yerevan flights by Turkish Airlines.

Meanwhile, the United States welcomed the railway initiative, calling it a significant step for regional connectivity and stability.

U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Tom Barrack said the development “represents an important milestone for regional connectivity and peace.” The U.S. Embassy in Yerevan also described the step as historic.