05.05.2025
Uzbekistan has completed the construction of a railway for high-speed trains produced by South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem. The new line, which runs along the Bukhara–Urgench–Khiva route, spans 465 kilometers and is fully electrified. The high-speed trains are expected to begin operations in 2026, according to the press service of the Railway Supply company.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev inspected the newly electrified Urgench–Khiva section and emphasized that the project represents a significant step in modernizing the country’s transportation system and integrating into regional logistics networks.
Under a $200 million agreement signed in June 2024 between Hyundai Rotem and KORAIL, Uzbekistan will receive six trains. Each train consists of 7 carriages, can carry 389 passengers, and is capable of reaching speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour. These trains will operate on a total of 1,200 kilometers of railway, connecting the cities of Tashkent and Khiva.
The new line will reduce travel time between the capital and the historic city from 14 hours to 7 hours and 40 minutes. According to forecasts, the number of passengers is expected to increase from 1 million to 3 million annually, while freight volume could rise from 1 million to 6 million tons. This project is part of Uzbekistan’s broader strategy to become a logistics and tourism hub in Central Asia.
