Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said on Thursday 8 October, that Yerevan will discuss the possible construction of railway connections with the Turkish city of Kars and the Azerbaijani city of Nakhchivan with Russian officials next week, according to local media.
Speaking at a press briefing, Pashinyan announced that Russian Railways chief Oleg Belozyorov will visit Armenia to discuss the development of the country's railway infrastructure.
The talks will include potential railway construction towards Kars and Nakhchivan, as well as the future management of Armenia's existing rail network.
Armenia's railway network is currently operated by South Caucasus Railway, a subsidiary of Russian Railways, under a long-term concession agreement.
Pashinyan has previously said Armenia wants to resolve questions surrounding the concession amicably with Moscow.
He has also suggested transferring the operating rights to a third country acceptable to both Armenia and Russia as a possible solution.
The planned discussions come as Armenia seeks to develop regional transport connections, including routes linking the country with neighbouring Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
However, Pashinyan did not announce any agreement on new railway construction or provide a timetable for the proposed projects.
The proposed railway connections form part of broader efforts to restore transport links between Armenia and Azerbaijan following decades of conflict.
In August 2025, Pashinyan and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev initialled a peace agreement at a U.S.-hosted summit in Washington, where both sides also endorsed plans to reopen regional transport routes.
A central element is the Trump Route for International Peace and Prosperity (TRIPP), a proposed connection through southern Armenia linking mainland Azerbaijan with Nakhchivan.
For Azerbaijan, the project would provide a direct land connection to its exclave, while Armenia hopes to benefit from regional trade and improved access to international markets.
Pashinyan has promoted the reopening of transport routes as part of his government's broader Crossroads of Peace initiative, presenting economic cooperation as a way to support lasting normalisation with Azerbaijan.
However, the Armenian prime minister has also warned that his country could lose out on potential transit revenues if new routes bypass its existing railway network.
Russia retains a significant role in Armenia's railway sector through South Caucasus Railway, which has operated the country's network since 2008 under a 30-year concession agreement, with the possibility of a ten-year extension.
Although Armenia owns the infrastructure, the Russian subsidiary manages its operations, meaning any major changes to the existing network must take the concession into account.
Pashinyan has previously raised concerns that sanctions against Russia could discourage international investment and complicate Armenia's participation in new regional transport projects.
His proposal to transfer the concession to a mutually acceptable third country reflects Yerevan's efforts to address these obstacles while maintaining dialogue with Moscow.
The railway discussions also highlight Armenia's efforts to balance relations with Russia, Iran and Western partners.
While Washington has backed the TRIPP project, Iran has expressed concerns about foreign involvement in transport infrastructure near its northern border.
Pashinyan has sought to reassure Tehran that reopening regional connections could also benefit Iran by improving access to trade routes linking the Persian Gulf with the Black Sea.
For Armenia, the challenge is to ensure that the peace process with Azerbaijan translates into economic opportunities without disrupting relations with its regional partners.
Next week's discussions with Russian Railways could therefore play an important role in determining how Armenia participates in the South Caucasus' developing transport network.
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