Uzbekistan is planning to expand its high-speed rail network across all four corners of the country. This ambitious goal was shared by the Deputy Minister of Transport Jasurbek Choriyev during a panel session at the Asian Development Bank’s meeting in Samarkand on May 5.
Choriyev noted that Uzbekistan’s standard-gauge railway infrastructure currently spans approximately 8,000 kilometers. He specifically highlighted the launch of the new Hyundai Rotem high-speed train, named Jaloliddin Manguberdi, which now serves the Tashkent–Khiva route.
"I would call this a landmark achievement for our country," the Deputy Minister stated. "Khiva was the last remaining piece of the puzzle among our major tourist hubs that had long been in need of a direct high-speed rail link."
Uzbekistan is also aggressively expanding its fleet, with six new Hyundai Rotem trainsets ordered and two already delivered.
"Beyond that, we are currently constructing new lines toward the east and south," the Deputy Minister added. "These high-speed projects are integral to Uzbekistan’s 2030 strategic development program, which envisions a comprehensive high-speed rail network reaching every direction of the country."
Under the Uzbekistan – 2030 strategy, the country aims to nearly double its transport services volume, jumping from 188 trillion to 320 trillion soums. This roadmap for deeper integration into global logistics networks also seeks to boost transit freight from 15.2 million to 18.5 million tons and increase annual air passenger traffic from 15 million to 24 million.
Significant upgrades are also coming to the rail sector. By 2030, freight delivery times between Samarkand and Karakalpakstan are expected to drop from ten days to six. The share of electrified railways is targeted to reach 65%, up from 51% in 2025, while the number of high-speed rail passengers is projected to climb from 1.3 million to 3.25 million.
The Deputy Minister of Transport Jasurbek Choriyev earlier revealed that the government had received the final feasibility study for the new Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed line. He noted that the project is currently being refined to maximize its investment appeal before a formal tender is launched.
In September 2024, president Shavkat Mirziyoyev announced plans to construct dedicated high-speed tracks along the Tashkent–Samarkand and Samarkand–Navoi–Bukhara corridors. Currently, the network’s capacity is bottlenecked because passenger and freight trains are forced to share the same aging lines.
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