Launch of “Afrosiyob” high-speed train to Khiva faces further delays

Recent reports on social media suggested that the high-speed “Afrosiyob” train would begin operations to the city of Khiva in Uzbekistan’s Khorezm region on December 7. However, “Uzbekistan Railways” JSC has clarified the situation through an official statement.  

The company confirmed that a test run was conducted as part of the electrification process of the “Bukhara-Urgench-Khiva” railway section. This trial is a key phase to assess the readiness of the infrastructure and ensure the new route meets operational standards.  

Here’s a refined version of the statement for better flow and professionalism:  

“We encourage social media users to exercise caution when receiving or sharing such information. For accurate and up-to-date news, we recommend following the official pages of ‘Uzbekistan Railways’ JSC,” the company stated.

It is noteworthy that the Asian Development Bank approved a $162 million loan in December 2021 to support the electrification of the Bukhara-Miskin-Urgench-Khiva railway line. Following modernization, the high-speed “Afrosiyob” trains are expected to reduce travel time from Tashkent to Khiva to just seven hours. Initially, the route was scheduled to be operational by 2024.  

Additionally, it was revealed earlier this year that the “Afrosiyob” service reported a financial loss of 238 billion sums in 2023. During the 58th plenary session of the Senate, Zufar Narzullaev, Chairman of the Board at “Uzbekistan Railways,” announced plans for dynamic ticket pricing for high-speed trains starting January 1, 2025, similar to airline ticketing models.