Kazakhstan might join the Europe-South Caucasus-Central Asia railway corridor

Kazakhstan is considering joining the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, which will is expected to begin operating in 2015. Other countries, such as Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are also considering joining this route. By connecting Central Asia to Europe via the South Caucasus and Turkey the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway will have strategic global significance. The railway is predicted to transport 10 million tons of cargo within its first year. Analysts predict that this amount will increase to up to 25 million tons within a few years of operation and to increase even further once Turkey constructs a railway tunnel across the Sea of Marmara.