“The government has taken the decision, and it forms part of a wider plan, to carry out the full rehabilitation of the historic Borjomi–Bakuriani railway, affectionately known as the Kukushka,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated at a cabinet session.

The PM also confirmed that two further rail routes are to be added to the network: Tbilisi–Kutaisi and Tbilisi–Akhaltsikhe.

“The Tbilisi–Kutaisi route will be added to the rail network. By August, rehabilitation of the Tbilisi–Batumi line will be complete, reducing journey times from five and a half hours to four. We will save an hour and a half for passengers travelling between the capital and Batumi.

August will also see the completion of works on the Tbilisi–Akhaltsikhe line, restoring a service that has lain dormant since 2009. Journey times will be cut from six hours to three, precisely half, compared with what passengers once endured.

We have also taken the decision, as part of the plan, to fully rehabilitate the historic Borjomi–Bakuriani railway, affectionately known as the Kukushka. Both the trains themselves and the rail infrastructure will undergo comprehensive restoration, and five stations along the route will be renovated. This line has remained idle since 2020, but according to our plans, it will once again serve our citizens and visitors starting from January of next year. The revival of this line carries enormous significance from a tourism perspective as well,” the Prime Minister said.