
The Middle Corridor’s Reality Check: Advancements and Challenges in Rail Infrastructure
The development of railway infrastructure in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Azerbaijan is crucial for maximising the potential of the Trans-Caspian International Trade Route (TITR) or Middle Corridor, a vital link connecting Europe and Asia. The Caspian Sea ports, which serve as critical transit hubs, rely heavily on the efficiency and modernisation of rail networks in these countries to enable a smoother and more efficient transit of goods across the region and beyond. Railways offer the most effective means of linking these landlocked nations to ports and markets beyond their borders. However, the conditions of their railroad networks highlight significant development disparities.