1880
In 1880, Azerbaijan's first railway line was put into operation. The construction of the 20-kilometer-long Baku–Sabunchu–Surakhani railway began at the end of 1878. A simple passenger station building was built in Baku. On January 20, 1880, the grand opening of this railway took place. This date is considered the beginning of railway history in Azerbaijan. Initially, the Baku–Sabunchu–Surakhani railway was used only for transporting oil. This line was the first in the world to transport oil using tank wagons. However, it was not long before passenger transportation also began on the same route. The journey from Baku to Sabunchu took 50–60 minutes, while to Surakhani 90 minutes. With the expansion of the pipeline network on the Absheron Peninsula, the Baku–Sabunchu–Surakhani railway line was entirely dedicated to passenger service.
1883
In 1883, the Baku–Elizavetpol (Ganja)–Tiflis (Tbilisi) main railway was put into operation. The first transportation of oil by railway towards Tiflis was launched on May 8, 1883 from Baku Freight Station, the first freight station in Azerbaijan. Since the city of Tiflis was connected by railway to the city of Poti, oil could reach the Black Sea coast in a short time. However, due to its structure, the port of Poti was not suitable for transporting large volumes of oil. Therefore, the more convenient Batum (Batumi) port was quickly equipped with the necessary facilities for large-scale oil transportation, and a railway was built from Tiflis to Batum. Since the continuation of the Baku–Elizavetpol–Tiflis main railway included the Tiflis–Gori–Kutaisi–Poti–Batum route, the railway connected the shores of the Caspian Sea with the Black Sea.
1884
In 1884, the Tiflis Station was put into operation in Baku. The first station building was primarily intended for transporting workers to the oil fields and oil port, so it was not suitable for receiving tourists or Russian officials, as well as foreign businessmen traveling on the Tiflis–Baku route. The rapidly developing city of Baku needed a modern railway station that could serve as the city’s symbol. The project for the Baku Railway Station, named "Tiflis Station," was approved on November 10, 1882. The architect of the station was Khrisanf Konstantinovich Vasilyev, who had worked as the architect of the Baku–Tiflis railway. The grand opening of the station took place on January 10, 1884. Tiflis Station was considered one of the most beautiful railway stations in the empire.
1900
In 1900, the territory of Azerbaijan was connected to the railway network of the Russian Empire. In 1896, permission was granted for the construction of the Port Petrovsk (Makhachkala)–Derbent, and in 1897, the Baku–Derbent railway lines. The technical and economic justification for the line particularly emphasized the significant need for a shorter route for the export of goods produced in Baku to Russia. In 1900, the Baku–Bilajari–Derbent–Port Petrovsk (Makhachkala) railway was constructed. After the Baku–Derbent line was built, the volume of oil sent north increased: in 1883, 12.5 million pood (205 thousand tons) of oil was transported from Baku to the north, while in 1901, 51.6 million poods (845 thousand tons) of oil was transported.
1918
On May 28, 1918, on the day, the independence of Azerbaijan was declared by the Azerbaijani National Council in Tiflis, the Ministry of Roads became one of the first ministries in the government cabinet organized by Fatali Khan Khoyski. Along with other departments, the Azerbaijan Railway Department and the Azerbaijan Railway Protection Department were established within the ministry. The first minister of roads was the famous inventor and engineer Khudadat Bay Malik-Aslanov, who had previously served as the Minister of Roads in the government of the Transcaucasian Republic and had extensive experience in railway work. He continued to hold the position of Minister of Roads in the subsequent four government cabinets.
1926
In 1926, the first electrified railway of the USSR began operation in Baku. In February 1924, a tram line was launched in Baku. The tram, being an inexpensive mode of transportation, led to the idea of constructing an electric railway to the suburbs of Baku. The Baku Soviet adopted this decision on February 29, 1924. Thanks to extraordinary efforts, construction was completed in 14.5 months instead of the planned 18 months. On July 6, 1926, the first electrified railway in Azerbaijan, and in the entire USSR, began operation. The advantages of the electric railway were so evident that the population eagerly used it. Between 1926 and 1931, 10 million passengers were transported on the Baku–Sabunchu–Surakhani line.
1941-1945
Azerbaijan Railways made a significant contribution to the victory over fascism during the World War II. Between 1941 and 1945, more than 600,000 tank cars filled with oil and petroleum products, as well as 700,000 freight wagons, were sent to the frontlines via the railways of Azerbaijan. The railways played a crucial role in transporting evacuated factories and plants, as well as refugees, to the remote areas of the country, and in moving troops to the frontline. As Azerbaijan was the main logistics center on the Trans-Iran route of the Lend-Lease (the military aid policy from Western states to the USSR), a large amount of military equipment, weapons, ammunition, strategic raw materials, food, and industrial goods were transported through this route.
1955
In 1955, the railways in Azerbaijan were granted independent railway status within the structure of the USSR Ministry of Railways. During its operational history, the “steel mainline” of Azerbaijan was included several times in the Transcaucasian Railway and later operated as an independent railway. Specifically, by the decision of the Council of Ministers of the Azerbaijan SSR on October 13, 1955, the railways in Azerbaijan continued its activities as an independent railway under the USSR Ministry of Railways. On October 7, 2005, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev signed a decree establishing the professional holiday for railway workers. According to this decree, Azerbaijan’s railway workers’ professional holiday is celebrated annually on October 13.
1979
In 1979, the Aghdam–Khankendi railway was constructed. This project was carried out under the initiative and leadership of the national leader Heydar Aliyev. Heydar Aliyev, who always paid great attention to the development of Nagorno-Karabakh, placed special emphasis on the construction of railway lines to the regions of Karabakh. The opening of the Baku–Yevlakh–Khankendi railway accelerated the social, economic, and cultural development of Karabakh and strengthened its ties with Baku. In the early 1990s, as a result of Armenia's aggression, the Aghdam, Asgeran, and Khankendi stations on this line were occupied.
1991-1994
As a result of the Armenian aggression, a significant portion of Azerbaijan's railway system remained under occupation. The occupation of 20% of Azerbaijani territory by Armenia caused substantial damage to the republic's railway industry, as well as other branches of the economy. Over 240 km of railway lines, along with infrastructure and equipment, were occupied. The operation of the Julfa–Minjivan–Horadiz railway (including the Mehri–Karchivan route passing through Armenia) and the Yevlakh–Khankendi railway was halted. It should be noted that railway workers also made significant contributions to the defense of Azerbaijani lands. Hundreds of railway workers were sent to the frontlines, where they fought face-to-face with the enemy. Additionally, sanitary trains belonging to the railways evacuated wounded soldiers from the most dangerous frontline areas and provided them with medical assistance.
2009
In 2009, the Azerbaijan Railways Closed Joint-Stock Company (CJSC) was established. The Azerbaijan Railways CJSC was created by a decree of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, on July 20, 2009, with the aim of bringing the railway transport system up to international standards. By a relevant decision of the Cabinet of Ministers, the charter and structure of Azerbaijan Railways CJSC were approved on February 15, 2010. On September 18, 2015, Azerbaijan Railways CJSC became an independent entity from the Ministry of Transport. This decision allowed Azerbaijan Railways to operate more efficiently and flexibly.
2014-2018
Within the framework of cooperation with the Stadler Rail Group, high-quality electric trains from the best classes were purchased for use on domestic routes and the Absheron Circular Railway line between 2015 and 2018.
Starting from 2015, modern trains were put into operation on the Baku–Sumgayit–Baku line. By the beginning of 2017, 200 km of main railway tracks were repaired on the Absheron Circular Railway line, the Baku Railway Station was reopened with completely new service infrastructure after reconstruction, and in order to restore passenger transportation services on the Absheron Circular Railway line, a 110-kilometer-long Baku–Sabunchu–Pirshaghi–Sumgayit–Khirdalan–Bilajari–Baku line was constructed.
2017
The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars (BTK) railway line was constructed with the active and direct involvement of Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), and it was inaugurated in 2017. The construction of the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway line began on November 27, 2007, and its official opening took place on October 30, 2017. The railway line, which is approximately 850 kilometers long, passes through more than 500 kilometers of Azerbaijani territory. The Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line, the shortest and most reliable route connecting Europe to Asia, has contributed to the expansion of Azerbaijan's logistical capabilities in the East-West International Transport Corridor. Now a significant part of the Eurasian transport map, the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars railway serves stability and security in the region where it is located. In the near future, passenger transportation will also begin on the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line.
2018-2020
During the Patriotic War, Azerbaijan Railways (ADY), operating under an enhanced work regime, played a significant role in the restoration of the country's territorial integrity. Throughout the 44-day war, railway workers transported various cargos to and from the frontline zones, including military equipment, food products, and fuel. The enemy's captured military equipment was also brought to Baku via rail. The workers of the steel railway, who worked selflessly day and night, had one guiding motto: "Every train delivered to the front on time is a heavy blow to the enemy!" Furthermore, during this heroic war, nearly 300 railway workers participated in the battles, four of whom were martyred, and 125 were awarded various medals. After the war, the restoration of railway lines in the liberated territories began.
In addition, in 2020, the full operation of the Absheron Circular Railway line was completed. In September 2015, the reconstructed Baku-Sumgayit railway line saw the departure of the first Stadler train, made in Switzerland by Stadler Rail Group, meeting the highest standards. Azerbaijan Railways (ADY) continues to expand the fleet of these trains. In 2019, the Baku-Sabunchu and Sabunchu-Pirshaghi lines were opened. On March 18, 2020, with the opening of the Pirshaghi-Goradil-Novkhani-Sumgayit section, the Absheron Circular Railway line was fully put into operation. The operational length of the Absheron Circular Railway line is 91 kilometers, and with station tracks included, the total length is 198 kilometers. This route has become one of the most important transportation projects in Baku and the Absheron Peninsula.
Between 2018 and 2020, Sumgayit Railway Station, Sabunchu Railway Station, as well as Zabrat-1, Mammadli stops, and Zabrat-2 stations were reconstructed and opened for public use. In 2019, the Sabunchu-Pirshaghi line of the Absheron Circular Railway line was inaugurated after reconstruction, and in 2020, the Pirshaghi-Goradil-Novkhani-Sumgayit section was opened.
2021
In 2021, President Ilham Aliyev laid the foundation for the Horadiz–Aghband and Barda–Aghdam railway lines. Shortly thereafter, the design and construction of the lines began.
2022-2024
In 2022–2023, the construction of the Yeni Bilajari and Yeni Ganja locomotive depots was completed, and in 2023, the second new railway bridge over the Kura River was built. The railway bridges over the Araz and Kura rivers were also majorly repaired.
In late 2023 and 2024, 10 new diesel and electric trains from the Stadler company were delivered to the country and added to the train fleet. Along with the acquisition of the new trains, a contract was signed in 2023 with the Stadler Rail Group company for the establishment of the Regional Service Center.
In 2023, passenger transportation started on the Baku–Gabala–Baku route for the first time, and the ADY Mobile application was launched. In 2023, the Baku–Ganja–Baku route was extended to Aghstafa, and that year, new stops were introduced in Govlar and Deller, with Laki and Ujar planned to be added starting in 2024.
From November 2023, large-scale repair work began on the 164 km Yevlakh–Balakan section, with old ties, rails, and fasteners replaced, and missing road signs added. Additionally, the tracks in Bilajari Sorting Park began to be restored for the first time since the 1960s.
In 2023, by becoming a member of the UN Global Compact, ADY further improved its activities covering environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) areas, and in 2024, it presented its first Sustainability Report.
In 2023, 303 new platforms were purchased, and to ensure the safe organization of freight transportation, 17 locomotives were sent to Kazakhstan and Latvia, 12 of which have been delivered to the country.
In 2023, the Azerbaijan Railway Museum started its operations.
To expand the capacity of the BTK (Baku-Tbilisi-Kars) railway line, modernization works on the Georgian section of the railway, carried out from May 2023, were completed in May 2024, increasing the annual freight volume from 1 million tons to 5 million tons. In support of the development of the Middle Corridor not only as a single East-West route but also as a West-East transportation artery, the first export cargo by rail was sent from Baku to China in November 2024.
In 2024, ADY (Azerbaijan Railways) obtained an international certification confirming its compliance with the ISO 9001:2015 Quality Management System Standard.
2025
Starting from January 2025, regular train services were resumed on the Baku–Balakan–Baku route.
