Uzbekistan to Launch Tashkent–Samarkand High-Speed Rail

Sangjin Kang, head of the Export-Import Bank of Korea’s representative office in Tashkent, has said that Uzbekistan plans to complete and launch a high-speed railway line between Tashkent and Samarkand in the first half of 2030.

He explained that the current railway line is used for both freight and passenger traffic, limiting the speed of passenger trains. A dedicated high-speed line will significantly increase capacity and sharply reduce travel time between regions, The Caspian Post reports via Uzbek media.

The project is currently at the stage of developing a preliminary feasibility study, which includes route planning, passenger traffic forecasts, cost estimates, and assessments of social and environmental impact. Overall implementation is expected to take 7-10 years.

The planned route will be about 300 kilometers long, with an average train speed of 185.7 km/h and a travel time of roughly 1.5 hours. According to an initial proposal by South Korea’s Saman Engineering, the line would stretch 282 km, cut travel time to 1 hour 26 minutes, and require the construction of 74 bridges and three tunnels totaling 8.9 km.

The high-speed rail initiative was first announced in September 2024 by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during a meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Samarkand. In addition to the Tashkent-Samarkand route, future lines are planned toward Samarkand-Navoi-Bukhara, with Türkiye’s Rönesans Holding potentially involved in construction.

In February 2025, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport agreed with a consortium of South Korean companies to develop the feasibility study with grant support from Korea’s Eximbank. Interest in financing has also been expressed by the Export-Import Bank of China and the European Investment Bank.

By July 2025, officials confirmed the feasibility study would be completed by year’s end, with tender preparations starting in January 2026. In December 2025, President Mirziyoyev reaffirmed the launch of construction in his annual address to parliament.

The president instructed the Ministry of Transport and Uzbekistan Railways to submit full project documentation by May 1, 2026, with the involvement of international consultants. The project is seen as a key step in modernizing Uzbekistan’s transport infrastructure, boosting connectivity, tourism, and long-term economic growth.