Georgian Railway resumes services to western cities after heavy rains cause suspension
Georgian Railway on Friday announced it was resuming its services between Tbilisi and Batumi and Tbilisi-Zugdidi. Photo: Georgian Railway
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Georgian Railway on Friday announced it was resuming its services between the capital city of Tbilisi and the western locations of Batumi and Zugdidi, after heavy rains in western regions caused a suspension in operations on Thursday.
The company said a “large amount of water” had overflowed from drainage wells in the vicinity of the Babi village in Kharagauli municipality and flooded a section of the tracks used for the services, in comments on the interruption.
It also noted a swollen river had flooded roads in Moliti, Vakhani, Leghvani and Tsipi administrative areas and “created problems for the population” and also caused soil near the tracks to collapse, in reports by Interpressnews.
While the services have now been restored, the company still warned about possible delays on other sections due to adverse weather.
It also noted passengers that had bought tickets for suspended services would have their full fares returned.
Traffic through the Rikoti Pass crossing between the eastern and western parts of Georgia has been restored following restrictions placed in sections of the area after it was hit by a landslide caused by rain between Wednesday and Thursday, the Roads Department said.
Light and passenger traffic will be able to use Rikoti Pass, a major crossing between the eastern and western parts of Georgia, for three hours longer daily, the Roads Department has announced.
Disaster relief works are underway in the eastern Georgian municipality of Gurjaani, located in the Kakheti region, where houses, roads and dozens of cars were hit by floods and damaged following heavy rains and hail on Thursday.
The special traffic mode on the Rikoti Pass crossing between the eastern and western parts of Georgia will be lifted before the start of the summer season, Georgia’s Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze announced on Tuesday.
Georgian Railway on Monday announced it was resuming its services between the capital city of Tbilisi and the western cities of Batumi, Poti and Zugdidi, after a landslide near the Marelisi station in the Imereti region caused a suspension in operations on Sunday.
Georgian Railway has resumed operation of its services from Tbilisi to the cities of Batumi and Borjomi after a rockfall in the capital city hit rail tracks in the Didube-Avchala district on Thursday.
Tbilisi City Hall said heavy rainfall and strong wind late on Tuesday affected Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, causing damage to electricity cables and flooding streets and underpasses.