As reported earlier, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari launched the first high speed railroad in Central Asia between Tashkent and Samarkand.

Talgo train, produced in Spain, run at the speed of 250 kmh and passed the distance between Tashkent and Samarkand in two hours (344 km). The company spent US$170 million to launch of the project.

Achildjan Ramatov said Uzbekistan is planning to implement a project on launch of new high speed road with the cost of US$520 million by 2015.

The project on construction of high speed road Maraqand-Bukhara-Qarshi will be financed due to loans of the Asian Development Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for $520 million and its own resources, he said. Overall cost of the project makes up US$961.5 million.

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari chief Achildjan Ramatov said that the company plans to buy from two to four trains from Spanish company Patentes Talgo S. A.

Patentes Talgo S. A. and Uzbekistan Temir Yollari signed a contract on purchase of high speed Talgo AVE 250 with the cost of 38 million euros. Spanish firm supplied the first train in July and the second will arrive in Uzbekistan in September-October.

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari financed 50% cost of contract on purchase of Talgo trains. Fund for Reconstruction and Development of Uzbekistan issued loan to cover other 50%. The fund issued loan through National Bank for Foreign Economic Activity of Uzbekistan (NBU). The loan is issued for 10 years, including two-year grace period. The interest rate set at 2% APR, including 0.25% refinancing margin.

Total capacity of the train makes up 257 people. The maximum speed is 250 km per hour and it will spend two hours to travel between Tashkent and Samarkand (344 km). Currently, Registan train passes this distance in 3.5 hours.

The electricity train consists of two locomotives, 8 passenger cars and one dining-car. The train has VIP, first class and economy class places. The trains can be used by people with limited abilities.

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari invested significant resources to modernization of railway infrastructure for organization high-speed train communication between Tashkent and Samarkand. The company fully reconstructed railway road Dashtabad-Jizzakh with extension of 59.3 km and constructed new double-line railroad Yangiyer-Yangi-Dashtabad with extension of 34.2 km (total cost – US$95 million).

Uzbekistan Temir Yollari also carried out other works, including modernization of energy saving and contact network, reconstruction of stations, introduction of modern signaling and communication system, etc. The company spent over US$50 million to these works.

For the first time, Uzbekistan constructed four metallic bridges with total extension of 400 meters. The bridges allow trains to run at the speed of 200 kmh.

To ensure security of population, Uzbekistan Temir Yollari constructed fences along the road from Tashkent to Samarkand. The company also reconstructed Tashkent and Samarkand stations to service Afrosiyob trains.