Afghanistan Opens New Rail Port on Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif Line

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — A ceremony was held in Afghanistan on May 21 to open railway port No. 5 on the Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif line following the completion of construction and restoration works, according to the press service of Uzbekistan Temir Yollari.

The railway port is a dry terminal designed for receiving, unloading, temporary storage and distribution of goods transported by rail.

The opening ceremony was attended by official representatives of Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. The sides emphasized that the development of railway connectivity and the launch of new logistics facilities contribute to strengthening the region’s transport and communication system.

As part of the event, the first freight train was received at the facility and unloading operations began, marking the start of full-scale operation of the terminal.

During the visit, Chairman of Uzbekistan Temir Yollari JSC Zufar Narzullayev held talks with Afghanistan’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. The discussions focused on increasing the capacity of the Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif line and expanding infrastructure.

Special attention was given to the construction of an additional 1,650-meter railway branch at Naibabad station. The project is expected to increase cargo wagon handling capacity, reduce idle time and improve the efficiency of the transport hub.

The Afghan Deputy Prime Minister instructed relevant agencies to ensure the rapid implementation of technical and construction works in cooperation with the Uzbek side. The Afghan side also expressed readiness to increase cargo handling volumes and ensure uninterrupted train reception.

It is recalled that Sogdiana Trans, a subsidiary of Uzbekistan Temir Yollari, is the operator of the Hairatan–Mazar-i-Sharif railway line and is responsible for organizing freight transport on this route.