Getting In | Train | Yerevan | Armenia Travel, History, Archeology & Ecology | TourArmenia

Getting In | Train | Yerevan
Trains Yerevan - Georgia - Hrazdan - Sevan
TourArmenia
Updated 2024

The Train works, it is reliable, and it can take you all the way to Tbilisi and the Black Sea.

Using the Yerkatgitzi or Gnatsk (train) is one the cheapest ways of entering and leaving the country. Trains run daily between Yerevan and the Georgian border, on even days of the month to Tbilisi and Batumi. The cost of a one-way ticket from Yerevan to Airum is as cheap as 1800 AMD ($3.19) for a bench seat, or 9000 ($15.98) for a sleeper compartment. Since it takes 11 hours (or more) to travel the distance between Airum to Yerevan, you will have ample time to take in the breadth of the Northern part of the country as the train winds its way through forests, mountains and valleys.

The train stops at 12 towns along the way, you also have an excellent opportunity to visit some of the most interesting historic and natural sites in Armenia. On the trains and in the buses (See Bus) is where you come closest to feeling like you are a local, as you all nestle in for the ride and watch bags and hampers open up to full course meals prepared for the long journey. People often carry products for market with them, or purchases from the larger towns. The resulting semi-chaos of jostling passengers, boxes and bags is always spiced with laughter and stories.

There are two types of trains currently running the rails between Yerevan and Georgia: Gnatsk (diesel locomotive, with open seating and compartments) or Elektrakash (electric locomotive, open seating). Gnatsk trains run the entire distance from Yerevan to the Georgian border and Tbilisi. Elektrakash trains run intermediate distances.

Tickets: Reservations: Calll or send fax to:

(+374-1) 572 722 - E-mail: mailto:arway@mbox.amilink.net. Trains can be crowded, births and best seats go fast in season, not much at all off season. Also, the Yerevan, Tbilisi and Batumi stations ticket offices sell tickets for all classes. For coupe and SV class, go at least one day before the train leaves to be reserve and buy a ticket, as they are very popular and sell fast. Ticket offices are supposed to be open an hour before the train leaves, and from 09:00 to 19:00. If not, just get on the train when it pulls up and find an empty seat or compartment. The conductor will make the round and you can pay on board. This will be the case if you get on board at an intermediary stop.

Seating: Gnatsk trains have four classes: obshi (open seating on wooden benches), plas (reserved seats, possibly on wooden seats, more often on padded seats) and two types of compartments: coup� (compartments with padded seating, sleeping berths for 4), and "CB" ("SV" in English) or "Luxe", a compartment for two with shared bath between two adjoining compartments. All classes are available between Tbilisi and Yerevan, but only coupe is available between Batumi and Tbilisi.

On The Train: Take whatever food and drinks you want with you. The train stewards can heat water for you, but there is no food service. Toilets are notoriously filthy, so you need to bring your own paper. Trains are not air-conditioned, though windows can be lowered. In the winter they are heated, but it takes a while for them to warm up the cars, so bundle up in cold weather. In coup� class you can pay an extra $1-$2 for spitaknerh (spi-tak-NEHR; sheets and pillow case ), it comes with SV class. From Giumri to Vanadzor it is only about 50 kilometers, but the train must wind its way up a mountain pass, so the going is slow. It is also a beautiful area, good for pictures.

From Tbilisi: The Train Station in Tbilisi is located at 43-Navtolughi. Train #675 leaves for Yerevan at 06:00 on even days of the month. Ask for an "CB" ("SV" in English) class if you want the 2 person compartment. It's a little more expensive, but is worth it for spreading out and security. They may only have Obshi and Coupe classes. Obshi gives you open seating, coupe provides compartment for four.

If you want to get off at Sadakhlo (in Georgia), buses, yertoughayin (private) taxis can take you the rest of the way to Tbilisi (about 4 hours, $4-$10). Hired cars take about 3 hours and cost around $60.

From Batumi: Transfer in Tbilisi to #675 for Yerevan. The train between Batumi and Yerevan takes a day. The bus ride from Batumi to Yerevan takes about 16 hours. You can break the trip down into two parts: catch a bus, fixed-route van taxi or hired car from Batumi (central station) to Giumri, then take a Gnatsk train from Giumri into Yerevan. The train takes 3-4 hours from Giumri to Yerevan, and costs 1040 AMD for open seating, 2677 AMD for coupe.

To Batumi: Take train #675 to Tbilisi and transfer to any train going to Batumi. The shortest route is to take the Gnatsk train from Yerevan to Giumri, and catch a bus, yertoughayin taxi or hired car to Batumi. Buses from Giumri to Batumi are available in front of the yerkatgitzi kaiyeran (Train Station) and avtokayan (Bus depot) in Giumri. Buses and yertoughayin taxis take about 12 hours to Batumi and cost about 6,000 AMD. Hired cars to Batumi are located in front of both the yerkatgitzi kairan and avtokayan. They cost about $200 per car load.

From Tbilisi: The Train Station in Tbilisi is located at 43-Navtolughi. Train #675 leaves for Yerevan at 06:00 on even days of the month. Ask for an CB ("SV" in English) class if you want the 2 person compartment. It's a little more expensive, but is worth it for spreading out and security. They may only have Obshi and Coupe classes. Obshi gives you open seating, coupe provides compartment for four.

To Tbilisi: The train from Yerevan stops at the border town of Bagratashen-Airum, where the Tbilisi wagon(s) are recoupled to the Tbilisi train. Train # 675 leaves Yerevan for Tbilisi at 19:00 on even days of the month. They have four classes to Tbilisi (obshi, plas, coupe and SV), one class from Tbilisi to Batumi (coupe). If you want to get off at Sadakhlo (in Georgia), buses, yertoughayin (private) taxis can take you the rest of the way to Tbilisi (about 4 hours, $4-$10). Hired cars take about 3 hours and cost around $60.

To Batumi: Take train #675 to Tbilisi and transfer to any train going to Batumi. The shortest route is to take the Gnatsk train from Yerevan to Giumri, and catch a bus, yertoughayin taxi or hired car to Batumi. Buses from Giumri to Batumi are available in front of the yerkatgitzi kaiyeran (Train Station) and avtokayan (Bus depot) in Giumri. Buses and yertoughayin taxis take about 12 hours to Batumi and cost about 6,000 AMD. Hired cars to Batumi are located in front of both the yerkatgitzi kaiyeran and avtokayan. They cost about $200 per car load.

To Yerevan			From Yerevan
#	Time	STATION	#	Time
675	19:15*	Tbilisi	676	19:00
	22:30*	Giumri		03:20*
	19.00	Yerevan		06:50*
6521	8:35	Arax*	6521	17:00
6512	09:06	Yeraskh**	6512	16:30
* Arax: Local train, no border connection. ** Yeraskh is on border with Nakhichevan. Trains everyday except Tbilisi, which is on even days of the month

Train Route Yerevan-Tbilisi-Batumi, Prices
You can get on or off at any of these stops. Note there is one train per day in either direction. These prices quoted January 2003, subject to change without notice. They may try and get you to pay dollars, or quote a much higher price. Resist this, asking to see the official price list. Mostly you will not have a problem.

STATION	obshi, AMD	*Plas,* AMD	coup�, AMD	*SV,* AMD
Yerevan
Masis	625	940	1619	3311
Echmiadzin	662	979	1684	3451
Armavir	716	1066	1818	3726
Aragats	831	1239	2089	4275
Giumri	1040	1547	2577	5233
Spitak	1246	1854	3047	6190
Vanadzor	1246	1854	3047	6190
Toumanian	1246	1854	3047	6190
Sanahin	1403	2071	3397	6885
Alaverdi	1403	2071	3397	6885
Airum	1403	2071	3397	6884
Sadakhlo	1554	2288	3740	7571
Tbilisi	1691	2504	4085	8258
Mitkheta			4085
Kacpi			4420
Gori			4420
Khashuri			4763
Kharagouli			5106
Zastafoni			5450
Kioni			5450
Samiredia			5782
Ochamelizi			6126
Batumi			6650

Every effort is made so that the train will leave on time, but it might be delayed, especially in the Winter. Travel times can take longer than indicated (i.e. in the winter), but are pretty much within the times indicated. Many trains are very late, do not set any dinner plans by this schedule.

Yerevan to Giumri: 3 � hours
Yerevan to Vanadzor: 8 � hours
Yerevan to Airum: 11 hours
Yerevan to Tbilisi: 16 hours

The Central Yerevan Yerkatgitzi Kaiyeran (Train Station) is located on Tigran Metz Avenue, 2.7 kilometers from Republic Square (M: Satsuni Davit B: 1, 15, 17 TB: 147 T: 2, 7). It is a handsome building made of Armenian tuf, and bears a spire capped with a Soviet Armenia Star. During the daytime the parking area is filled with buses, taxis and cars for hire to regions and Tbilisi/Batumi.

Tickets (��: Toms: TOHMS):
The Tomsarkegh: (Ticket office) is located just past the main rotunda, on your right. There are signs in English to guide you. The ticket office works until the last train has left.

Food: There is a restaurant and buffet in the station (the restaurant is on the right side of the building as you approach it). Both offer perhaps the cheapest coffee in town: 50 AMD for Turkish style coffee. The restaurant also offers Khinkali (Georgian style Pelmeni) for 60 AMD each, and Khorovatz at 700 AMD per shish (4-5 pieces). The decor ain't much, but the service and food is good.

Hotel: Just about the cheapest rate we know in Yerevan (and maybe Armenia) is located at the train station. The Jamanakavorh hangestian senyak (jam-a-nak-a-VORH hang-es-ti-AHN sen-YAHK: temporary sleeping rooms) charges 600 AMD ($1.50) per bed per night. There are four beds per room, dormitory style. If you want privacy, rent all four beds and break your bank at $6.00 per night. They have four rooms to let and are seldom full. There is one communal bathroom for guests, no hot water and electricity in the evenings/nights. Check-out is noon. They can heat water for you for tea or coffee, but they don't have food service. The rooms and linen are clean, if faded, but for $1.50 you can overlook the wallpaper. Open 24 hours a day. The hotel is located on the far right of the station, facing the parking area. There is a door with two black signs on either side. Walk up to the second floor and knock.

Left Luggage: Marked by a Russian Kamera Khranenia (�� ), the left luggage office is located on the train side of the building, left as you exit the main rotunda. They have both lockers and a left luggage room. 45 AMD per day for lockers, 50 AMD per day for larger items. 24 hours a day service.

Other: On the second floor is a waiting area for parents with small children. There is also an emergency aid office located next to the left luggage.

For gnatsk trains to Charentsavan, Hrazdan and Sevan, go to the Arabkir station, located at the top of the Cascade monument. One train a day departs for Hrazdan. Summer season only there are trains to Sevan. There is no ticket office at the station. Get on the train and pay the Tomsavajar (��ֲ�: Ticket conductor).

From Yerevan
Yerevan	Charentsavan	AMD	Hrazdan	AMD	Sevan	AMD
08:00	08:50	250	09:55	400	11:20	500
19:30	20:20	250	21:25	400	22:50	500
To Yerevan
Sevan	Hrazdan	AMD	Charentsavan	AMD	Yerevan	AMD
13:40	15:15	250	16:10	400	17:00	500
Hrazdan Train stops at Kanakert, Abovian, Hrazdan Mash (51^st Kilometer), Nurnus, Charentsavan, and Solak en route. * Often runs 1-2 hours late en route.