Igor Konoshenkov, head of the Russian land troops' information service, said seven T-72 main battle tanks, six BRDM-2 armored reconnaissance vehicles, two BTR-60 armored personnel carriers and four communications vehicles were being loaded on the train at a railway station in Tsalka, 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Akhalkalaki.
Under an agreement Russia and Georgia signed March 31, Russian troops are to leave Georgia's two Soviet-era bases in Akhalkalaki and Batumi by 2008. The pullout from Akhalkalaki, about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from the border with Turkey, a NATO member, is to be completed by December 2006.
Konoshenkov said the loading would take two days and the train would head for Russia via Azerbaijan May 15.
He said enough materiel had been pulled to the Tsalka station to load another train, adding that the second train to Russia would depart May 23.
A total of 21 trains will be required to withdraw Russia's military hardware from Akhalkalaki before October 2006, Konoshenkov said. One more train will deliver the materiel from the Batumi base to Russia via Azerbaijan.
Georgia will be responsible for the security of the trains until they reach the border with Azerbaijan, where the Azerbaijani officials will take over.
Vladimir Kuparadze, deputy commander of the Russian contingent in South Georgia, said transportation via Azerbaijan, though longer in distance, was simpler, as the equipment would not have to be reloaded.
Russian and Georgian military officials said the loading was going on smoothly.
"Georgian authorities are addressing issues related to ensuring security at the station, loading, customs and railroad procedures in routine order," said Andrei Popov, in command of the Russian troops in the South Caucasus. "No problems have arisen so far."
He added that if no obstacles surfaced, Russia would meet the pullout deadline set for the Akhalkalaki base.
Alexander Kiknadze, Georgia's chief of staff, also said that "everything is going on according to the withdrawal timetable."
Part of the equipment will be redeployed to the Russian base in Gyumri, Armenia. Konoshenkov said the first of the planned 12 motor convoys would head for Armenia May 18.
