“Georgian Railway” plans to invest 1.7 billion GEL over the next decade, according to the company’s general director, Lasha Abashidze. He says the first stage alone includes a 1-billion-GEL investment aimed at fully renewing locomotives and purchasing new electric trains.
In the short term, Georgian Railway aims to expand its wagon fleet, modernize locomotives and passenger trains, acquire new rolling stock, and carry out major infrastructure upgrades. Abashidze noted that these improvements form a two-year plan, and the public will see results soon. He added that allowing private operators on the reformed railway is also a topic that can be considered, even though such a model is uncommon in the region.
Regarding the procurement of new locomotives and wagons, Abashidze said several international suppliers have expressed interest. The tender for locomotives will be announced this or next month and will be conducted under World Bank regulations. According to him, both European and Asian companies have shown strong interest.
Georgian Railway is preparing for large-scale modernization, planning to purchase around 50 locomotives, 1,500 freight wagons, and 10 new passenger trains, while simultaneously overhauling existing trains and renovating stations. However, it remains unclear which suppliers will be selected and within what timeframe. Some earlier tenders - including a 2023 tender for 300 freight wagons- were unsuccessful, though a new tender for 120 wagons worth 17.4 million GEL is currently underway.
