Uzbekistan may start Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed rail in 2026

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Construction of a high-speed railway between Tashkent and Samarkand in Uzbekistan could begin as early as 2026, according to the country’s Deputy Minister of Transport Jasurbek Choriev.

He made the statement in an interview with Spot on the sidelines of the 59th Annual Meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank held in Samarkand.

Choriev said that the final feasibility study report for the project was presented on April 28. The study was prepared by a consortium of South Korean companies, including Saman Engineering, Dong Myeong Engineering Consultants & Architecture Co., Ltd, Korea Railroad Corporation, and Korea National Railway.

The deputy minister noted that the technical aspects of the project have largely been completed, while work is continuing on refining the investment component. He said the Ministry of Transport, together with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and consultants, is working to make the project more attractive to potential investors.

According to him, the authorities plan to identify sections and infrastructure assets that could be most appealing for investment. Once this stage is completed, the Ministry of Transport, together with the World Bank, plans to bring in a consultant to conduct an additional review and validation of the project, paving the way for tender procedures.

Choriev emphasized that the high-speed rail project is a complex infrastructure initiative, but the feasibility study was completed in a relatively short period of about 14 months. Local authorities also participated in the process by submitting proposals and recommendations.

The deputy minister said the ministry aims to begin construction works within the current year.

Earlier, Sangjin Kang, head of the Korea Eximbank office in Tashkent, stated that the project could take seven to ten years to complete, with full commissioning expected in the early 2030s.

Under the current parameters, the route will span about 300 kilometers. Trains are expected to reach an average speed of 185.7 kilometers per hour, reducing travel time between Tashkent and Samarkand to around one and a half hours.

Alongside railway development, Uzbekistan is also upgrading its rolling stock. On May 2, a South Korean-made Hyundai Rotem high-speed train began operating between Tashkent and Khiva. The seven-car train can reach speeds of up to 260 kilometers per hour.