Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: People's Republic of China in Russian – People's Republic of China in Russian –
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Source: People's Republic of China – State Council News
Tbilisi, January 4 (Xinhua) — At the end of 2025, Georgia's transport sector reached a historic milestone. On a stormy evening, under freezing rain, a floodlit ceremony marked the official opening of a railway modernized by a Chinese company in Khashuri Municipality.
As officials celebrated the completion of a massive railway modernization project that is a vital part of the country's transportation system and a key link in the Middle Corridor freight route, those who spent years building the railway reflected on the journey, which became more than just an engineering challenge.
TEN YEARS SHOULDER TO SHOULDER
Levan Totladze, a 34-year-old technician responsible for quality control of construction materials, dedicated more than ten years to this construction project, which was carried out by the Chinese company China Railway 23rd Bureau Group. In an interview with Xinhua, he expressed joy and pride at being part of this large-scale project.
"This is my most important and longest project, and I've learned a lot here. When you spend years working on such a large project and then see a train running along the track you built, it certainly brings immense joy and satisfaction that everything turned out well," Levan shared.
The project, which took approximately 13 years to complete, was fraught with numerous challenges due to the difficult terrain and stringent technical requirements. Construction workers had to build numerous bridges and tunnels, including the 8.3-kilometer-long T9 tunnel. Levan believes that professionalism and team spirit were key to overcoming these difficulties.
"What I value most about my Chinese colleagues is their professionalism. Working among professionals always makes things easier and more enjoyable," he noted. "You could say my colleagues and I have become like one big family. So I'd be very happy if we continue to work together on new projects in the future."
CONQUERING THE "GOLDEN PLOT"
This project, which covers a challenging section of the Surami Range, is a modernization of Georgia's main east-west railway. Giorgi Kajaia, deputy project manager for ILF Consulting Engineers Georgia LLC, which is overseeing the project, calls the pass section "golden"—the most challenging stretch, which for many years remained an impenetrable barrier for construction workers.
"For a long time, no one could approach this challenging project. But the Chinese company succeeded, and the quality of their work is excellent," Georgy emphasized. "During the process, we had many disputes and technical discussions with the Chinese company's engineers, but most importantly, we always found common ground and developed solutions that will provide reliable service for many years to come."
According to the new technical specifications, passenger trains on the upgraded line will reach speeds of 120 km/h, and freight trains will reach 80 km/h. As Georgy noted, these figures were made possible by a significant improvement in the reliability of the railway infrastructure.
"This project is of great importance for Georgia and brings numerous benefits to the railway. The old sections had numerous speed limitations and maintenance issues, but the new line has resolved these long-standing issues," he said.
NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR LOCALS
During construction, the project created over 1,000 jobs for Georgian citizens, providing them with stable income and opportunities for professional growth. Among them is Ketevan Kaishauri, who joined the project in 2022 as a translator and eventually became deputy head of the administrative department.
"Working for such a large company on such a significant project was a unique opportunity for me. There's a wonderful atmosphere here, and the team is made up of true professionals and wonderful people. It's an incredibly interesting experience, and I'm truly proud that I chose this path," said Ketevan.
In addition to her office work, Ketevan helped build relationships with local residents, acting as a mediator in dialogue between the Chinese company and the population. "One of the challenges was interacting with the local population, but thanks to proper communication, any issues were resolved," she noted.
The impact of the railway modernization has already been noticeable for local residents. According to Ketevan, travel time has been reduced by 40-50 minutes. "Travel has become much more convenient. This project brings real benefits both to Georgia and to the entire region," she emphasized.
According to Georgian Railway, after its official commissioning, the line's annual throughput capacity will increase from 27 million to 48 million tons of freight—an increase of nearly 80 percent, cementing Georgia's role in regional logistics. At the commissioning ceremony, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated that the country strives to become a key, reliable, and indispensable link in the Middle Corridor.
“Our commitment does not end with the completion of construction work,” said Guo Hai, deputy general manager of the Georgian branch of China Railway 23rd Bureau Group. “We are focused on ensuring the long-term reliability of this line and expect that the experience transferred during the project will become a solid foundation for future infrastructure cooperation in Georgia.” –0–
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