Uzbekistan Fast-Tracks Tashkent–Samarkand High-Speed Rail Project

Uzbek Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov has announced that Uzbekistan’s ambitious plan to build a high-speed railway connecting Tashkent and Samarkand is moving forward, with the project’s feasibility study nearing completion.

The technical and economic assessment is expected to be finalized by the end of 2025, after which tender documentation preparation will begin in early 2026, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

First announced in November 2023 by First Deputy Chairman of “Uzbekistan Temir Yullari” (Uzbekistan Railways) Khikmatulla Rakhmetov the project addresses growing concerns that the current rail infrastructure is struggling to keep up with rising passenger and cargo traffic.

In a major development, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reaffirmed support for the project during the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Board of Governors meeting held in Samarkand in September 2024. He also announced a complementary route-Samarkand-Navoi-Bukhara-aimed at further enhancing the country’s rail connectivity. Turkish construction giant Rönesans Holding is being considered as a potential partner for the initiative.

In February 2025, the Ministry of Transport signed a deal with a South Korean consortium to finalize the feasibility study, funded by a grant from Korea’s Export-Import Bank (Eximbank).

Several international financial institutions have already shown interest in backing the high-speed rail project, including the Export-Import Bank of China and the European Investment Bank-highlighting the strategic importance and regional potential of Uzbekistan’s railway ambitions.