13.01.25

Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have signed an agreement to operate tourist trains and formed a working group to implement joint projects, with plans to launch a new train route between Astana and Samarkand, according to a press release from "Uzrailpass."

During a working meeting in Astana, representatives of "Passenger Transportation" JSC (a subsidiary of "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy") and "Uzrailpass" discussed the development of passenger transportation and opportunities to enhance cooperation.

As a result of the negotiations, both parties signed an agreement to operate tourist trains and established a working group to bring their plans to fruition. One of the first milestones was the recent launch of the "Jibek Joly" (Silk Road) tourist train.

"The parties also explored the possibility of launching new international routes, including the 'Astana–Samarkand' route, which will be a significant step in boosting tourism potential," the statement said.

Over the past year, Train No. 1/2 "Almaty–Tashkent" transported more than 72,000 passengers, highlighting strong demand for the route. The distance of this journey between the two countries is 988 kilometers.

https://kun.uz/en/news/2025/01/13/uzbekistan-and-kazakhstan-to-launch-astana-samarkand-train-route