by Xinhua writer Liu Shuchen
TBILISI, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- As 2025 drew to a close, a historic milestone was reached in Georgia's transport landscape. On a night of freezing sleet just days ago, amid the festive lights near the central city of Khashuri, the inauguration ceremony of the Georgian Railway Modernization Project was heralded as a transformative gift for the "Middle Corridor" -- a vital cargo route linking Asia and Europe.
While officials gathered to celebrate the project as a cornerstone of Georgia's future development, those who spent years building the tracks reflected on a journey that transcended engineering.
A DECADE OF "FAMILY" BONDS
Levan Totladze, a 34-year-old technician responsible for the quality inspection of construction materials, has worked for more than a decade on the project constructed by China Railway 23rd Bureau Group Co., Ltd.
"This is my most important and longest-standing work," Totladze said. "When you work for many years on such a large project and then see the train passing over the road you helped build, it is very rewarding."
Spanning over 13 years, the project faced numerous challenges due to complex geographical conditions and demanding technical requirements, including the construction of multiple bridges and tunnels such as the 8.3-kilometer T9 tunnel. For Totladze, professionalism and teamwork were crucial to overcoming these difficulties.
"What I value most about this company is the professionalism; working among professionals always makes the process smoother and more efficient," Totladze said. "I have learned a great deal here, and my colleagues have become like one big family. I would be very happy to work together with this team on new projects in the future."
CONQUERING "GOLD SECTION"
The project is a core upgrade of Georgia's East-West railway main line crossing the Surami Mountains. Giorgi Kajaia, deputy project manager at ILF Consulting Engineers Georgia LLC, the international firm providing third-party supervision, has worked on-site since 2018. He described the mountain pass segment as the "gold section" -- a notoriously difficult stretch left undeveloped for years.
"This is a very difficult section, and the 'gold section' every time provides many surprises," Kajaia said. "During the process, we had many arguments and discussions with engineers from the Chinese company, but every time we found an agreement on a solution that would work for a long time. The quality is good."
Under the new technical standards, the up line is designed for a passenger train speed of 120 km/h and a freight train speed of 80 km/h. Kajaia said the modernization has eliminated long-standing speed restrictions and maintenance problems.
"This is very important for Georgia, and this project gives many benefits to the railway," he said. "The old sections had many speed limits and maintenance problems, but with this new way, they solved those issues."
EMPOWERING LOCAL LIVES
During its construction, the project has employed over 1,000 Georgian workers, providing stable jobs and professional training. Ketevan Kaishauri joined the project in 2022 as a translator and was later promoted to deputy manager of the administration department.
"It was a big opportunity for me to work on such an important project," Kaishauri said. "I've learned to focus on details, results and quality. My career has grown here, and I am proud to have chosen this path."
Beyond the office, Kaishauri also helped coordinate relations with local communities, addressing concerns through direct communication. The impact of the railway is already being felt locally. She noted that train travel time has been reduced by 40 to 50 minutes. "For local people, it is simply more convenient to travel. This project has real advantages for Georgia and the region."
According to Georgian Railway, the modernization will boost the line's annual freight capacity from 27 million to 48 million tons -- nearly an 80 percent increase that cements Georgia's role in regional logistics. At the inauguration ceremony, Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the country aims to become a "key, reliable and indispensable link" in the Middle Corridor.
"Our commitment does not end with the completion of the tracks," said Guo Hai, deputy general manager of the Georgia Branch of China Railway 23rd Bureau Group Co., Ltd. "We are focused on ensuring the long-term reliability of this line and hope the expertise shared during this project will serve as a foundation for future infrastructure cooperation in Georgia." ■
