Armenia has called on its Russian partners to urgently decide on restoring key sections of the country's railway infrastructure, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said, linking the issue to fresh momentum around regional transport projects.
Armenia expects the rapid restoration of several priority rail sections currently under Russian management. These include the stretch in the Akhurik area from the Armenia-Turkey border to the existing operational network, the line from the Armenia-Nakhichevan border to Yeraskh, and the Tavush section up to and including the Ijevan railway station.
Asked about timelines, Pashinyan said the appropriate moment for action was "now," pointing to the Jan. 14 joint Armenia-U.S. statement that unveiled an implementation framework for the "Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity" (TRIPP), a U.S.-backed initiative aimed at enhancing regional connectivity.
Under a 2008 agreement with Russia's state-owned Russian Railways (RZD), Armenia handed its railway network to the company's subsidiary for trust management for 30 years, with an option to extend the concession by another decade. The deal obliges the Russian operator to invest in infrastructure modernization, renew rolling stock and improve safety, while ownership of the assets remains with the Armenian state.
In 2025, Russian Railways' debt reached almost four trillion roubles, or more than $50 billion. The company cut its budget by around 20%. Russian Railways' subsidiary, South Caucasus Railways, has operated Armenia's railways under a 30-year concession since 2008. In 2024, however, the company's revenues fell by more than 3.3 billion drams, or about $8.7 million - a drop of roughly 20%.
On Dec. 25, Pashinyan said the government was prepared to restore critical railway sections using state funds should the Russian side fail to act within a reasonable timeframe.
If implemented, TRIPP and broader connectivity could also give Armenia access to transport routes through Nakhichevan, strengthen links with Iran and restore rail connections to Russia via Azerbaijani territory.