Kukushka train, Borjomi to Bakuriani

Is the Kukushka train running in 2026?

No. Passenger service was suspended in 2020, during the pandemic, and the line has been under reconstruction ever since. In May 2026 the reopening was pencilled in for January 2027; in October 2026 officials brought it forward to December 2026. Treat both as targets, not a schedule.

Everything is being renewed at once — track, bridges, stations and the train itself — so the first weeks after the restart may be a running-in period, and journey times could differ from the old ones. We’ll update this page once there is an official timetable.

Timetable and ticket price

There is no published timetable or fare for the restored line yet. Reports mention plans for four trains a day, double the old service. The timetables you will find online, with morning departures from Borjomi, describe the pre-2020 train and no longer apply.

Before the closure a one-way ticket cost 2 GEL, paid in cash to the conductor on board. Whether the new service will sell tickets at a counter, online or on the train has not been announced.

Paying in Georgia: Visa and Mastercard work in most cafés, hotels and shops in Borjomi, and Bolt is the easy way to get a taxi. Marshrutkas, markets and small ticket desks are cash only, so carry some small lari notes.

What is the Kukushka?

The Borjomi–Bakuriani railway was started in 1897 to carry spa guests from Borjomi up into the mountains. Steep slopes and harsh winters stretched the work to four years, and the first train reached Bakuriani in January 1902.

A steam engine with open carriages worked the line until it was electrified in 1966. “Kukushka” — Russian for “cuckoo” — is the nickname for the little train. It is slow, which is exactly the point: the forest is right outside the window.

The line’s showpiece is the iron bridge between Tsagveri and Tsemi stations, credited to Gustave Eiffel’s firm. Since 2017 the whole railway — track, stations, bridge and train — has protected cultural heritage status.

What you see on the way

• The valley beyond Borjomi, where the line follows the river past small villages.
• The Eiffel bridge between Tsagveri and Tsemi — from the carriage you see the front of the train curving across it.
• Pine and fir forest after Tsemi, the prettiest stretch, and magical under snow.
• Tiny stations with their old buildings: Tsagveri, Tsemi, Tba, Libani, Sakochavi.
• Bakuriani at the top, a ski resort noticeably higher and cooler than Borjomi.

Borjomi to Bakuriani without the train

While the Kukushka is out of service, marshrutkas run from the bus station by Borjomi railway station: a winding mountain road, 40–60 minutes. Unofficially the fare is around 5 GEL, paid in cash to the driver.

A taxi is roughly 50–70 GEL one way (unofficial figure); order one through Bolt or ask your guesthouse to find a driver. You can also join a guided day trip from Borjomi or Tbilisi that combines Bakuriani with the park and the mineral springs.

The Eiffel bridge sits near Tsagveri village, away from the main road — without the train you would have to find your own way to it locally.

Is the Kukushka worth it?

Right now, no — there is no train, so don’t travel to Borjomi for it. Once it reopens, it is worth a morning if you love heritage railways and slow views: the 2.5 hours in the carriage are the experience itself.

If you simply need to get to Bakuriani, the marshrutka is two to three times quicker. The best plan for later: up by train, down by marshrutka, and the afternoon in Borjomi Central Park.

Kukushka, Central Park or the national park?

While the train is out of action, the forest is closest in Central Park and in Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park.

Borjomi viewpoints compared

Places in Borjomi with views, rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.

Nearby — add to your day

37

Borjomi Museum of Local Lore

Borjomi, Georgia

1 h · 3–5 GEL · 10 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Borjomi Museum of Local Lore

45

Villa Firuza (Mirza Riza Khan House)

Borjomi, Georgia

15 min · Free — seen from the street · 12 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Villa Firuza (Mirza Riza Khan House)

36

Borjomi Central Park

Borjomi, Georgia

2 h · ≈ 5 GEL (unofficial) · 15 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Borjomi Central Park

34

Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

Borjomi, Georgia

4 h · Free entry, registration required · 22 min walk

Yes — add to my route: Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park

How to do it right

• Watch Georgian Railway announcements: the timetable may change in the first weeks after the restart.
• Winter is the most beautiful time — the firs after Tsemi are snow-covered, and you can go straight to the slopes in Bakuriani.
• Sit by a window facing forward: on the Eiffel bridge you can see the front of the train on the curve.
• Bakuriani is cooler than Borjomi year-round — bring a jacket even in summer.
• Come down by marshrutka and you still have the afternoon for Borjomi Central Park.

Questions