The technical advancement and comprehensive development of Azerbaijan's railways are closely associated with the name of the National Leader, Heydar Aliyev. Even during his leadership in Soviet Azerbaijan, significant achievements were made in the railway infrastructure. The Azerbaijani railway system was equipped with modern technical machinery and equipment, and special attention was paid to training national personnel in this field.
Thanks to Heydar Aliyev's initiative and rigorous oversight, most of the essential facilities put into operation in the Azerbaijani railway sector were built. In the 1970s, obsolete steam locomotives were phased entirely from the Azerbaijani railways and replaced by diesel and electric locomotives. The most outstanding achievement of the 1970s was the electrification of the main railway lines. All railway lines in Azerbaijan, including the Baku–Boyuk Kasik and Baku–Yalama sections, were electrified.
In 1979, the electrification of the Baku–Moscow line connected Azerbaijan’s railway to the electrified lines of the USSR's central railways. The electrification of the railways brought up the issue of modernizing the entire existing infrastructure. Thanks to Heydar Aliyev's precise attention, this significant work was carried out swiftly. In the 1970s, new facilities for the mechanical washing of electric train carriages were installed at the Baku depot. The Buyukshor depot was fully equipped to repair and maintain electric trains and was integrated with the Baku depot in 1977. In 1979, the Shirvan circular depot was constructed.
In 1975, the Keshla carriage depot opened, becoming the only specialized facility for container repairs in the South Caucasus. A carriage depot was established in Julfa, a freight wagon repair depot in Ganja, and a modern refrigerator wagon depot began operations in Alat.
In 1979, under Heydar Aliyev's initiative and leadership, the Agdam–Khankendi railway was constructed. Heydar Aliyev, who always paid great attention to the development of the Nagorno-Karabakh region, placed special significance on laying railway lines in the Karabakh territories. The opening of the Baku–Yevlakh–Khankendi railway accelerated Karabakh's socio-economic and cultural development.
The construction of the Yevlakh–Shaki–Balakan railway began in 1981. Despite holding a responsible position in the Soviet leadership during the 1980s, Heydar Aliyev paid special attention to the construction of this line. The opening of the Baku–Yevlakh–Shaki–Balakan railway in 1985 further accelerated the development of Azerbaijan's northwestern regions. Culfa–Sharur and Ali Bayramli–Imishli lines were opened in 1989.
As a result of the work carried out, the volume of cargo transported by Azerbaijan's railways reached a record high. By 1987, 120 million tons of cargo had been transported by Azerbaijan Railways. During the 1980s, 80% of freight and 50% of passengers in the country were transported by rail.
With the increased passenger traffic in the 1970s, the old railway station buildings no longer met the demand. There was a need for a new, more modern station building. Construction began on a new station building between Baku's "Tbilisi" station and the metro station. The new Baku station, which included a hotel designed to serve passengers, became the largest railway station in the Caucasus. The grand opening of the new railway station took place in 1976. Station buildings were being constructed not only in Baku but also in the regions.
After the National Leader Heydar Aliyev returned to political power in Azerbaijan in 1993, he continued to pay special attention to the development of the railways. In 1996, Azerbaijan Railways began participating in several international transport corridors as a transit route. To achieve this, the Azerbaijani government, under Heydar Aliyev's leadership, engaged in intense negotiations with the leaders of neighboring countries and international transport organizations.
On January 4, 1998, a ceremony was held to open the Dubandi oil terminal and station, with the participation of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev. The equipment installed at the station allowed for the safe and rapid filling of tankers with oil in an environmentally friendly manner.
At Heydar Aliyev's initiative, an international conference dedicated to the revival of the Great Silk Road was held in Baku from September 7 to 9, 1998, with the participation of 13 countries and 32 international organizations. During the event, several important documents were adopted, including the "Framework Multilateral Agreement on International Transit Transport" and a contract on "Cooperation in the Field of Railway Transportation."
Heydar Aliyev's Significant Role in the Construction of the Baikal-Amur Mainline
National Leader Heydar Aliyev played a crucial role in constructing one of the world's most significant railway projects, the Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM). At that time, serving as the First Deputy Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the USSR, Heydar Aliyev led the commission for the construction and commissioning of BAM from 1979, mobilizing resources and addressing the most complex issues. He did not merely oversee the construction of BAM; he traveled along the entire mainline, stopping at each station to familiarize himself closely with the construction process.
Under Heydar Aliyev's leadership, Azerbaijani specialists built one of the most important stations on the mainline—Angoya in Buryatia. In 2008, the station was named after Heydar Aliyev as a token of gratitude for their dedicated efforts.
The Ulkan station was also constructed by Azerbaijani builders, who incorporated national ornaments into the decoration of the station's building. In the autumn of 1984, Heydar Aliyev drove the "golden nail" at the Balbukh station, marking the completion of one of the critical phases of BAM's construction.
National Leader Heydar Aliyev's Memories of BAM:
"In my memory, BAM remains a construction that unites strong, proficient individuals capable of great work. We take pride in the fact that many representatives from Azerbaijan participated in constructing this mainline, and among other projects, they also built the city of Ulkan. BAM will forever be remembered as a testament to the courage and perseverance of those who worked in the harsh conditions of taiga, roadlessness, and perpetual frost and remained loyal to friendship and brotherhood ideals."
On the occasion of the professional holiday of Azerbaijani railway workers—October 13, 2023—a film titled "The Railways of Life" was prepared, dedicated to the work of National Leader Heydar Aliyev in developing railways.
The film highlights the particular importance that Heydar Aliyev placed on training local personnel, building the Agdam–Khankendi railway line, and opening new stations and terminals.
Quotes from the National Leader:
"My father was also a railway worker. I grew up in a railway family. Even as a child, I spent much time on the railways alongside my father. I believe I know and love the railway."
"The railway is a significant part of Azerbaijan's economy. We have built railways in Azerbaijan for decades, establishing its material and technical foundation."
"The railway sector has deep roots and great traditions in Azerbaijan. Railway workers have always been very disciplined. The railway itself demands a great deal of discipline."
"In the past, there was a tradition always to adjust clocks to the railway time because the railway clock was extremely precise."
"In Azerbaijan, railway workers have always been at the forefront. They have always distinguished themselves. The railway profession has always been a respected profession in Azerbaijan."
