Uzbekistan expands high-speed train network — President inspects infrastructure

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, during his visit to the Khorezm region on May 1, traveled from Urgench to Khiva on a new train alongside members of the public. The Presidential Press Service reported on the event. The President inspected train carriages produced in Uzbekistan and examined the electrified Urgench-Khiva railway line.

Currently, the 465-kilometer Bukhara-Urgench-Khiva railway has been electrified, equipped with protective barriers, and upgraded with necessary infrastructure. For this route, Uzbekistan has purchased six high-speed electric trains from South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem. Starting next year, these trains will operate under the name "Jaloliddin Manguberdi" on the Tashkent-Khiva route.

The rail network will serve over 3 million passengers annually thanks to these improvements. While the current train journey from Tashkent to Khiva takes 14 hours, the new electric train will reduce the travel time to 7 hours and 40 minutes.

Additionally, the freight train capacity will increase from 1 million tons to nearly 6 million tons.

As part of President Mirziyoyev’s October 10, 2023 decree on rail transport sector reforms, Uzbekistan is strengthening its train manufacturing industry. The Reconstruction and Development Fund has allocated $50 million toward domestic production of passenger carriages. In the first quarter of 2025, the first 10 carriages were completed, and the President personally inspected their comfort and design.

Over the next two years, Uzbekistan will increase the number of passenger carriages by 70, gradually phasing out older models. This expansion will allow one million additional passengers to be transported annually.

During the train journey, President Mirziyoyev observed urban beautification projects and newly planted trees along the roadsides.

Last year, as part of the "Green Space" national initiative, nearly 10 million trees and shrubs were planted in Khorezm. Major industrial enterprises contributed to creating green belts in the region.

Early spring has also seen an increase in cultivated land. More than 1,100 hectares of field borders and canal areas have been used for profitable crop production, with entrepreneurs assigned to guarantee the purchase of these goods. Information about agricultural field locations is now accessible to the public via the "Agroko‘makchi" mobile app.

Earlier, President Mirziyoyev visited the "Sobirjon Yusuf" family farm in Khonka district, where he awarded 73-year-old farm leader Oyimjon Otajonova the honorary title of "Distinguished Agricultural Worker of Uzbekistan."