Deputy Prime Minister Alexei Overchuk, currently on a working visit to the Republic of Armenia, toured the Lori Province, where he, accompanied by representatives of the Russian Railways and South Caucasus Railway, travelled by electric train from Vanadzor to Akhtala station to view the results of restoration efforts on the railway infrastructure damaged by flooding in May 2024.
Prolonged precipitation, followed by overflow and overtopping of the Debed, Aghstev and Tashir rivers on May 25, flooded towns, damaged road sections and disrupted water supply to 16 communities in two provinces in northern Armenia.
The disaster caused significant damage to Armenian railway infrastructure, including track washouts, fallen supports of the contact network, disruptions in power supply from several traction substations, and damage to railway automation equipment. A landslide on the railway tracks also halted train traffic on the Ayrum — Sanahin section, affecting both domestic traffic and the only international link in the region (with Georgia).
President of Russia Vladimir Putin instructed to promptly restore the damaged sections of the railway. Specialists from South Caucasus Railway, Russian Railways and Georgian Railway were despatched to Armenia and quickly commenced restoration efforts.
The management of the railways established operational headquarters in the Russian Railways and South Caucasus Railway companies, and coordinated closely with Armenian authorities to organise combined (road and railway) logistics for high-priority cargoes essential to the Armenian economy, including food and fuel supplies.
Workers constructed railway embankments using tens of thousands of tonnes of quarry stone and crushed rock. They restored drainage engineering structures, traction power substations, contact networks, power transmission lines of various voltages, communication lines, and station infrastructure, and rebuilt several kilometres of tracks.
The first test train set off on the restored track on 14 June, one week earlier than planned.