In Georgia, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a railway development plan for 2026–2028. The program includes the purchase of 50 new locomotives, 1,500 wagons, and 10 passenger trains. All mainline services after the upgrade will be operated with new rolling stock, which will increase the speed and comfort of passenger transport, and increase the annual passenger flow from 2 million to 5 million people.
Special attention is paid to freight traffic: the introduction of modern systems and new rolling stock should double the capacity of the railway. Key updates are also planned in the infrastructure. The Tbilisi–Batumi line will be modernized by August, reducing travel time from 5.5 to 4 hours. The Tbilisi–Akhaltsikhe route will be restored, reducing the journey time from 6 to 3 hours, and the historic Borjomi–Bakuriani train ("Kukushka") will start operating from January next year after a complete rehabilitation.
According to the Prime Minister, modernization is long overdue: almost all locomotives of the Georgian railway are over 30 years old. The renewal of the fleet and infrastructure should radically change the country's railway communication, making it faster, more convenient and more efficient for both citizens and tourists.