Tbilisi to Kutaisi by Train 2026: Schedule, Tickets & Prices
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Where the train arrives | Rioni station (≈15 min from Kutaisi centre) or Kutaisi Airport station (Kopitnari, 22–25 km from the city). No direct train to Kutaisi I city station in 2026 |
| Journey time | ~2h50 to Rioni (regular train); ~2.5–3.5 h to Kutaisi Airport station (Stadler) |
| Departures from Tbilisi | To Rioni: ≈08:15 and ≈17:30 (trains 870 / 874). To Kutaisi Airport: 08:00 and 17:35 (Batumi Stadler) |
| Back from Kutaisi | From Rioni: ≈10:00, midday and ≈20:30 (trains from Poti, Ozurgeti, Zugdidi) |
| Ticket price | To Rioni: 14–17 GEL (2nd class), 26–30 GEL (1st). Stadler to Kutaisi Airport: 33 / 71 GEL; regular trains from 15 GEL |
| Where to buy | tre.ge (official Georgian Railway tickets) or gr.com.ge; sales open 3–4 weeks ahead |
| Alternative | Private transfer from 288 GEL per car (230 km, ~3 h, door to door, any time) |
Schedule and fares in one paragraph. In 2026 the Tbilisi–Kutaisi train means a regular train to Rioni station: from Tbilisi Central at about 08:15 and 17:30, 2 hours 50 minutes on board, 14–17 GEL in 2nd class and 26–30 GEL in 1st. Back from Rioni around 10:00, midday and 20:30. The fast Stadler (08:00 and 17:35) runs to Batumi and stops at Kutaisi Airport station — 33 GEL in 2nd class. Always check exact minutes for your date on tre.ge.
Kutaisi is Georgia's second city — the gateway to Imereti, the Okatse and Martvili canyons, Prometheus and Sataplia caves, and the low-cost flights that land at David the Builder Kutaisi International Airport (KUT). Getting there from the capital is easy and cheap, but the railway has one quirk that booking aggregators rarely explain: Kutaisi city sits off the main east–west line, so "the train to Kutaisi" in practice means a train to one of two stations near the city. This guide covers the verified 2026 timetable, real fares by class, how to book without paying a markup, and an honest comparison with a door-to-door private transfer on the same route.
Schedule 2026: two ways to do it by train
Option 1 — regular train to Rioni station (cheapest)
Rioni station sits on the main line about 15 minutes' drive south of Kutaisi centre. The "ordinary" Tbilisi–Poti / Ozurgeti / Zugdidi trains stop here, and this is the option locals recommend: cheaper and closer to town than the fast train to the airport. From Tbilisi Central there are morning and evening departures (on the September 2026 timetable train 870 at 08:15, arriving Rioni 11:03, and train 874 at 17:30, arriving 20:18), with an extra midday service in summer. Journey time is 2 hours 48–50 minutes. From Rioni to the centre take city bus #3 (~20 minutes) or a taxi/Bolt for a few lari.
| Direction | Departs | Arrives | Duration | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tbilisi → Rioni (Kutaisi) | Tbilisi Central ≈08:15 (train 870) | Rioni ≈11:03 | 2h48 | 14–17 GEL (2nd), 26–30 GEL (1st) |
| Tbilisi → Rioni (Kutaisi) | Tbilisi Central ≈17:30 (train 874) | Rioni ≈20:18 | 2h48 | 14–17 GEL (2nd), 26–30 GEL (1st) |
| Rioni (Kutaisi) → Tbilisi | ≈10:00 · midday · ≈20:30 | ~2h50 later | 2h50 | 14–17 GEL (2nd), 26–30 GEL (1st) |
Option 2 — fast Stadler to Kutaisi Airport station (Kopitnari)
Since 2022 all east–west trains, including the double-deck Tbilisi–Batumi Stadler, stop at Kutaisi Airport station in Kopitnari — 1.8 km from the terminal (free shuttle) and 22–25 km from the city centre. The Stadler leaves Tbilisi at 08:00 and 17:35 and reaches the airport station in roughly 2.5–3.5 hours depending on the service; tickets are 33 GEL in 2nd class and 71 GEL in 1st. Regular trains also call here from 15 GEL. This option only makes sense if you are flying from or to KUT; going into the city this way is slower and dearer (a taxi from the station to Kutaisi is another ~25 GEL).
Important: there are no direct trains to Kutaisi I station in the city centre in 2026 — the railway timetable offers Rioni and Kutaisi Airport only. If an aggregator shows "train to Kutaisi", check which arrival station it lists.
Fares in 2026
| Train / class | Price (one way) | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Regular train to Rioni — 2nd class | 14–17 GEL (~$5–6) | Reserved seats, air conditioning, luggage space at carriage ends |
| Regular train to Rioni — 1st class | 26–30 GEL | Wider seats, more legroom, power sockets (two per row) |
| Stadler to Kutaisi Airport station — 2nd class | 33 GEL | Double-deck fast train, air conditioning |
| Stadler to Kutaisi Airport station — 1st class | 71 GEL | More space, quieter carriage |
| Seat selection online | +1 GEL | Pick a window seat with a socket in 1st class |
There is no dining car on Georgian trains — buy water and snacks at Tbilisi Central (Rioni has a platform shop; khachapuri vendors work the platform at Khashuri). Children travel at a discount; suitcases are not a problem.
How to book: tre.ge, gr.com.ge, 12go
Tickets go on sale about 3–4 weeks ahead. tre.ge is the official Georgian Railway ticketing platform with an English interface and a mobile app (it sells buses too). gr.com.ge is the railway's own new site: register with your passport number, foreign cards are accepted (50 tetri fee), and the ticket arrives as a PDF — nothing to print. 12go is an English-language aggregator with a small markup, handy if your card is refused on the Georgian sites. Whichever you use, bring the passport the ticket was booked on: conductors check documents. In summer and on holidays the morning train sells out — book ahead rather than at the station.
Stations at both ends
Tbilisi Central (Station Square / Sadguris Moedani) sits above a busy market and is connected to the metro (Station Square, both lines). Arrive 30 minutes early: platforms are announced late and the hall can be chaotic. A Bolt from Old Tbilisi costs 8–12 GEL and takes 15–20 minutes outside rush hour.
Rioni station is a small station south of Kutaisi: bus #3 to the Colchis Fountain takes about 20 minutes, a taxi/Bolt 10–15 minutes. Book to Rioni if your destination is the city itself, Prometheus Cave or the canyons.
Kutaisi Airport station (Kopitnari) is 1.8 km from the KUT terminal with a free shuttle. The city centre is 22–25 km away: ~25 GEL and 30–40 minutes by taxi. If you are flying from KUT, also compare a private transfer Tbilisi – Kutaisi Airport (from 339 GEL per car, 253 km, no changes or shuttles).
What the ride is actually like
The line runs west from Tbilisi along the Mtkvari valley, past Gori and over the Likhi range that divides eastern and western Georgia, then drops into greener, wetter Imereti. It is a calm two to three hours: working air conditioning, big windows, clean toilets and room to stretch. The regular trains are older than the Stadlers, but 1st class on them actually has more legroom.
Train, bus or private transfer: the honest maths
The train wins on price; a transfer wins on flexibility, door-to-door comfort and stops along the way. Side by side, September 2026:
| Train to Rioni | Bus / marshrutka | Private transfer | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | 14–17 GEL per person | 25–30 GEL per person | from 288 GEL per car (1–4 people), minivan from 517 GEL |
| Time | 2h50 + 15 min into town | 3.5–4 h | ~3 h door to door (230 km on the new Rikoti expressway) |
| Departures | ≈08:15 and ≈17:30 | Didube / Okriba / Ortachala, 6–9 a day | Any time, including early flights |
| Reaches KUT? | No (Rioni) / yes, airport station (Stadler, 33 GEL) | Some services go to the airport | Yes, straight to the terminal |
| Luggage | You carry it | Hold compartment | Driver loads everything |
| Stops | Timetabled only | None | Gori, Uplistsikhe, Prometheus Cave — your choice |
For a solo traveller heading into Kutaisi centre, the train to Rioni at 14–17 GEL is unbeatable. For a family of four, four 1st-class tickets (≈110 GEL) plus a taxi from Rioni already reach half the price of a car — at which point a transfer from 288 GEL door to door, on your schedule, with all the luggage and an optional stop at Uplistsikhe, is often the better deal. Flying from KUT? Read our Kutaisi Airport transfer cost guide.
One line to remember: as of September 2026, the Tbilisi–Kutaisi train arrives at Rioni station (2h50, 14–17 GEL) or Kutaisi Airport station (Stadler, 33 GEL); a private transfer on the same route starts at 288 GEL per car.
Check private transfer prices Tbilisi → Kutaisi — from 288 GEL per car
Frequently asked questions
How long is the train from Tbilisi to Kutaisi?
Regular train to Rioni station: about 2 hours 50 minutes (from Tbilisi ≈08:15 and ≈17:30). Fast Stadler to Kutaisi Airport station: roughly 2.5–3.5 hours (from Tbilisi at 08:00 and 17:35).
How much is the ticket?
To Rioni: 14–17 GEL in 2nd class, 26–30 GEL in 1st. Stadler to the airport station: 33 / 71 GEL. Regular trains to the airport station from 15 GEL.
Does the train go to Kutaisi Airport?
Yes — to Kutaisi Airport station in Kopitnari, 1.8 km from the terminal with a free shuttle. The city is 22–25 km from there, so for Kutaisi itself use the trains to Rioni.
Is there more than one train a day?
Yes: at least two to Rioni (morning and evening, plus a midday train in summer) and the Stadler twice a day to the airport station, plus regular trains. Check the exact timetable for your date on tre.ge or gr.com.ge.
Can I stop in Gori or Uplistsikhe on the train?
The train calls at Gori but will not wait while you visit the Stalin Museum or Uplistsikhe — you would have to break the journey and take a later train. If stops matter, a private transfer stops on request.
What if tickets are sold out?
Check 1st class (sells slower), the Stadler to the airport station, a bus from Didube or Okriba (25–30 GEL, ~3.5–4 h), or book a private transfer with same-day confirmation — it never "sells out".
Related routes and guides
- Private transfer Tbilisi → Kutaisi — from 288 GEL per car, any time.
- Transfer Tbilisi → Kutaisi Airport (KUT) — from 339 GEL, straight to the terminal.
- Tbilisi to Batumi by train 2026 — the double-deck Stadler, schedule and fares.
- Kutaisi Airport to the train station
- Kutaisi: Prometheus Cave and Martvili Canyon
- How to get around Georgia: the complete transport guide
Checked 14 September 2026: timetable and fares cross-checked against tre.ge (official Georgian Railway tickets), the live 12go timetable (trains 870/874 for 17 Sep 2026) and the Wander-Lush guide (updated 2 Aug 2026). Transfer prices come from OrbiTrip's open tariff table on the day of checking. Georgian Railway shifts minutes between seasons — verify your date before travelling.
Doing your own maths? We published the break-even calculations as open data: Car vs train vs marshrutka in Georgia 2026 — median 1.16 GEL per km across 24 routes and the passenger count at which a private car beats train tickets (4 on Kutaisi–Batumi, 7 on Tbilisi–Batumi). Free CSV, CC BY 4.0.