# Kukushka train, Borjomi to Bakuriani > The Kukushka is a narrow-gauge mountain train from Borjomi to the Bakuriani ski resort: 37 km through pine forest and over a bridge credited to Eiffel’s firm, about 2.5 hours each way. **It is not running now** — closed for restoration since 2020, restart promised for December 2026. No new timetable or fare yet; the old ticket was 2 GEL. Web page: https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/kukushka-train - City: [Borjomi](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi), Georgia - YesGo score: 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) - Time on site: 4 h - Entry: Not running; new fare not announced - Opening hours: Not running: under restoration; restart promised for December 2026, no timetable published - With kids: Fine with kids - Status: Not running — track, stations and train under restoration - Reopening: Promised for December 2026; in spring the target was January 2027 - Timetable: Not published; plans for 4 trains a day announced - Fare: New fare not announced; before the closure 2 GEL, cash to the conductor - Journey time: ≈ 2.5 hours each way - Departs from: Previously Borjomi station — not Borjomi-Parki - To Bakuriani now: Marshrutka or taxi from Borjomi bus station, ≈ 40–60 min - Operator: Borjomi-Bakuriani Railway, a subsidiary of Georgian Railway - Coordinates: 41.84166, 43.38514 - Facts checked: 30.10.2026 ## Key facts - **Since 2020** — no passenger trains — the line was closed for reconstruction (source: Vokrug Sveta, 13.10.2026; Russian Wikipedia) - **≈ 37 km** — from Borjomi up to Bakuriani (Wikidata gives 38 km) (source: English Wikipedia; Vokrug Sveta; Wikidata Q3650431) - **≈ 2.5 hours** — each way — the train climbs slowly all the way (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Vokrug Sveta) - **900 mm** — track gauge — a true narrow-gauge line (source: English and Russian Wikipedia; Vokrug Sveta) - **1897** — construction began, under the Russian Empire (source: Georgian Railway; English Wikipedia; Vokrug Sveta) - **January 1902** — the first train reached Bakuriani (source: English Wikipedia; Vokrug Sveta (Georgian Railway gives 1902)) - **Eiffel** — the iron bridge between Tsagveri and Tsemi stations is credited to Gustave Eiffel’s firm (source: Georgian Railway; English and Russian Wikipedia; Vokrug Sveta) - **1966** — the line was electrified and the steam engine retired (source: English and Russian Wikipedia) - **2017** — the railway was given cultural heritage status (source: Georgian Railway) - **Until the early 1990s** — it also hauled andesite from a quarry near Bakuriani (source: English Wikipedia; Vokrug Sveta) > **The Kukushka is not running right now** Trains stopped in 2020 and the track, stations and rolling stock are being rebuilt. The Georgian government says service should resume in December 2026, but the date has already slipped once. Don’t plan a day around the train until Georgian Railway publishes a timetable — Bakuriani is easy to reach by marshrutka or taxi. ## 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. ## How to get to the Kukushka station 1. Start at the Borjomi Central Park gates (Ekaterina spring) on 9 April Street. 2. Walk along the main street to Borjomi railway station — about 20–30 minutes on foot or 5–10 minutes by taxi. 3. Before the closure the Kukushka left from Borjomi station, not Borjomi-Parki, where the train from Tbilisi terminates. Check where boarding will be after the restoration. 4. The bus station is right by the railway station — marshrutkas to Bakuriani leave from there when there is no train. 5. Coming back from Bakuriani, a marshrutka or taxi is much faster than the train. ## 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](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/borjomi-central-park). ## Before you go: checklist - [ ] Confirmed the Kukushka is actually running and found the current timetable - [ ] Know which station it leaves from - [ ] Cash in lari for the ticket, marshrutka and cafés - [ ] Half a day set aside: 2.5 hours up, about an hour back - [ ] A warm jacket — Bakuriani is noticeably colder than Borjomi - [ ] Plan B: the marshrutka from the bus station if the train is cancelled ## Kukushka, Central Park or the national park? | | Kukushka | Central Park | Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | What it is | Narrow-gauge ride to Bakuriani | Spa park with the mineral spring | Mountain forest and hiking trails | | Open now | No, under restoration | Yes | Yes | | Time needed | Half a day | 1–2 h | Half a day or more | | Effort | Sitting in a carriage | Easy walk | Hiking | | Best for | Rail fans, families | Everyone | Walkers | While the train is out of action, the forest is closest in Central Park and in [Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/borjomi-kharagauli-national-park). ## Borjomi viewpoints compared Places in Borjomi with views, rated by YesGo. - [Borjomi Central Park](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/borjomi-central-park) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ≈ 5 GEL (unofficial) - [Borjomi-Kharagauli National Park](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/borjomi-kharagauli-national-park) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Free entry, registration required - [Kukushka Train (Borjomi–Bakuriani Railway)](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/kukushka-train) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Not running; new fare not announced - [Rabati Castle](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/rabati-castle) — YesGo score 21/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · 20 GEL for foreign visitors ## A Borjomi day once the Kukushka is back Morning train to Bakuriani and a marshrutka back, the park and spring in the afternoon, sulphur baths in the evening. YesGo fits in the timing and transfers. 1. [Kukushka Train (Borjomi–Bakuriani Railway)](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/kukushka-train) — YesGo score 30/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 4 h · Not running; new fare not announced 2. [Borjomi Central Park](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/borjomi-central-park) — YesGo score 36/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 2 h · ≈ 5 GEL (unofficial) 3. [Borjomi Sulphur Baths](https://yesgo.io/georgia/borjomi/borjomi-sulphur-baths) — YesGo score 34/100 (Yes, if nearby) · 1 h 30 min · ≈ 5–10 GEL plus park entry ## Good to know Across the former USSR many small trains were nicknamed “kukushka”, but in Georgia the name belongs to the Borjomi–Bakuriani line. Borjomi-Parki is the terminus of the Tbilisi train, not the Kukushka’s station. ## Tips - 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 ### Is the Kukushka train running now? No. Service has been suspended since 2020 while the line is restored. A restart is promised for December 2026, but the date has moved before. ### When will the Borjomi–Bakuriani train reopen? In October 2026 officials named December 2026; in May the target was January 2027. A firm date will come with the timetable. ### What is the Kukushka timetable? No new timetable has been published. Plans for four trains a day have been announced. Older two-train schedules online are out of date. ### How much is a Kukushka ticket? The new fare has not been announced. Before the closure a one-way ticket was 2 GEL, paid in cash to the conductor. ### How long is the train ride from Borjomi to Bakuriani? About 2.5 hours each way — 37 km uphill with stops at small stations. ### Where does the Kukushka leave from in Borjomi? It used to depart from Borjomi station, next to the bus station, not from Borjomi-Parki. Check the boarding point after the restoration. ### How do I get from Borjomi to Bakuriani without the train? By marshrutka from the bus station by the railway station, 40–60 minutes, or by taxi. Pay cash on the marshrutka. ### What is the Eiffel bridge on the Bakuriani line? An iron bridge between Tsagveri and Tsemi stations, credited to Gustave Eiffel’s firm and protected as part of the railway heritage site. ### Is the Kukushka worth it? Once it reopens, yes — if you enjoy slow trains and forest views. If speed matters, the marshrutka to Bakuriani is two to three times faster. ## How we checked Status and reopening dates are checked against two news reports: in May 2026 the target was January 2027, in October it was December 2026; we show both and mark them “verifying”. The timetable, fare and boarding station after the restoration have not been officially announced. Sources give the gauge as 900 mm. Opening: the first train ran in January 1902 (Russian Wikipedia says 1901); we show 1902. Sources name the river under the bridge differently (Tsemistskali, Gujarula), so we identify the bridge by its stations. Marshrutka and taxi fares are unofficial. ## Sources - Georgian Railway (railway.ge): Borjomi-Bakuriani Railway pages — history, stations, the Tsagveri–Tsemi bridge, heritage status since 2017, 30.10.2026 - Vokrug Sveta, 13.10.2026: the Kukushka’s return after a six-year break - SOVA News, 05.05.2026: modernisation of Georgian Railway - English Wikipedia: Borjomi–Bakuriani railway; Russian Wikipedia: Borjomi–Bakuriani narrow-gauge railway; Wikidata Q3650431 - Red Fedora Diary: How to Take Borjomi Bakuriani Train — former departure point and payment --- This is the Markdown version of a YesGo page for AI assistants. Quote the web page link above, not this file.