High-Speed Rail Line Tashkent — Samarkand Scheduled for Launch in First Half of 2030

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Construction of the high-speed rail line between Tashkent and Samarkand is planned to be completed and put into operation in the first half of 2030, according to Sangjin Kang, Head of the Korea Exim Bank’s representative office in Tashkent, in an interview with Uzbekiston 24.

He noted that the existing railway line is currently used for both freight and passenger services, which limits the ability to accelerate passenger train movement. The creation of a separate high-speed line will significantly increase capacity and reduce travel time between the two regions.

At present, the project is at the stage of developing a preliminary feasibility study (PFS). This phase includes route planning, forecasting passenger traffic, cost estimation, and analysis of social and environmental impacts. The project’s implementation timeline is estimated at 7–10 years.

The route will be approximately 300 km long, with an average train speed of 185.7 km/h and a travel time of around 1.5 hours. According to the first plan presented by the South Korean company Saman Engineering, the line will span 282 km, travel time will be 1 hour 26 minutes, and construction will include 74 bridges and 3 tunnels totaling 8.9 km in length.

The high-speed rail initiative was announced in September 2024 by President Shavkat Mirziyoyev at a meeting of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank in Samarkand. In addition to the Tashkent — Samarkand route, lines connecting Samarkand — Navoi — Bukhara are planned. The Turkish group Rönesans Holding may be involved in construction.

In February 2025, the Ministry of Transport reached an agreement with a consortium of South Korean companies to develop the PFS with grant support from the Korea Exim Bank. Interest in the project, including potential financing, has also been shown by the China Exim Bank and the European Investment Bank.

In July 2025, Minister of Transport Ilhom Mahkamov reported that the PFS would be completed by the end of the year, and preparation of tender documents for construction would begin in January 2026.

In late December 2025, President Mirziyoyev confirmed in his annual address to the Oliy Majlis the launch of construction for a dedicated high-speed passenger line.

The President instructed the Ministry of Transport, together with Uzbekistan Railways, to prepare and submit project evaluation documentation by 1 May 2026, engaging international consultants, for the construction of a double-track high-speed railway between Tashkent and Samarkand.

The project is expected to become a key step in developing the country’s transport infrastructure, accelerating passenger transportation between the capital and the historic city of Samarkand, and opening opportunities for further economic and tourism growth.