On 1 February, 2020 the agency “Türkmendemirýollary” (“Turkmenistan Railways”) changed its form of ownership to an open joint-stock company.On 30 January, 2020 President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov signed a resolution to allow the agency Türkmendemirýollary under the Ministry of Industry and the Ashgabat Agency for Track Maintenance subordinate to it to become founders of АООТ Demirýollary.
On 4 February, 2020 “Turkmenistan: golden age” reported that the agency has been charged with the task of servicing railroad tracks and railroad transport, as well as passenger and cargo transportation.
The founders of АООТ, along with the agency, are open joint stock company “Turkmenistan’s Transportation and Logistics Centre” and closed joint stock company “Altyn Asyr”. During preparations for the conversion into joint-stock company property appraisal of departments of the national railway network was held.
“Demirýollary” is comprised of the locomotive facility, railroad car shed, train stations, construction and installation departments, the industry-related communications and electric power supply organizations, and Avaza-based hotels “Kerven” and “Turkmenbashi”.
Correspondents of “Chronicles of Turkmenistan” report that they have been informed of these changes by railroad conductors.
According to railroad conductors, in late January all agency employees were requested to sign letters of resignation and subsequent job application forms to re-employ them in the same capacity but in АООТ “Türkmendemirýollary”.
Apart from the application form, employees were also obliged to provide a passport copy, copies of all education certificates and diplomas, a certificate from the house administration (referred to as form 3) and three photos.
A noticeable change in the work of the agency is that the popular day train Ashgabat-Bairamali, which is scheduled to depart at 10 a.m. from Ashgabat, has been out of service for the past few days.
Moreover, a luxury carriage with sleepers has been added to all passenger trains. In the booking offices they are referred to as VIP carriages. Apart from comfort upgrades, breakfast and dinner are served to passengers. A ticket for the aforementioned carriages costs 100 manats, regardless of the destination.
The home page of the agency website says that starting from 1 February, 2020 new carriages with VIP sleepers have been introduced into service, which will include dinner, bed linen, tea and coffee and Wi-fi access for entertainment programs.