Armenia anticipates that restoring its portion of the Gyumri-Kars railway will take approximately one year, according to the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure, as reported by Sputnik Armenia.

In November 2024, representatives from Armenian and Turkish governmental bodies convened at the border to discuss the technical aspects of reopening the Akhuryk-Akyaka railway crossing and to assess the condition of the Gyumri-Kars railway line.

The ministry noted that the railway segment between Gyumri and the Turkish border requires significant repairs. Preliminary assessments, conducted with assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development under the Crossroads of Peace initiative, estimate the total cost of restoring the railway at $32.4 million.

However, the ministry clarified that it lacks information regarding the condition of the railway on the Turkish side. Consequently, the cost estimates pertain solely to the Armenian section.

Overall, the ministry stated that approximately one year would be needed to make the Armenian segment of the railway operational.

Officials in Yerevan believe that reactivating the Gyumri-Kars railway branch will diversify international rail routes between Armenia and neighboring countries. This development is also expected to facilitate bilateral and transit transportation within the region and establish a rail connection with the European Union through Turkey.

The Gyumri-Kars railway has been inactive since 1993. It was first reconsidered in 2008 during initial efforts to normalize relations between Ankara and Yerevan. In 2010, Russian Railways announced the commencement of developing a railway project between Armenia and Turkey. The topic resurfaced following the 44-day war, amid regional geopolitical shifts.