Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.uz) — Uzbekistan plans to connect the new Tashkent airport with Tashkent North railway station under a draft strategy for developing local passenger transport through 2030, according to a proposed presidential resolution.
The strategy, which has not yet been approved, envisages constructing three railway lines linking major railway stations with airports by 2030.
In addition to the proposed Tashkent connection, railway links are planned between Bukhara railway station and the city's new airport, as well as between Urgench railway station and Urgench International Airport.
The financing section of the draft document also separately identifies a proposed railway branch connecting Parkent with the new Tashkent airport.
Under the proposed timetable, the first railway line is scheduled to enter service in 2026, with two additional lines planned by 2029. All three connections are expected to be operational by 2030.
Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport and Uzbekistan Railways JSC would be responsible for preparing feasibility studies and project documentation, coordinating land allocation, constructing the railway lines and commissioning them.
The draft strategy proposes financing the Tashkent and Bukhara railway connections through loans from commercial banks.
Preliminary calculations allocate US$30.6 million for 2029 and US$37.4 million for 2030, bringing the combined proposed financing to US$68 million.
The document does not specify the estimated cost of each railway line separately or identify a financing source for the Urgench connection.
It also emphasizes that the proposed financing amounts are preliminary and will be revised following the completion of feasibility studies.
The strategy includes plans to establish an integrated transport network across the Tashkent metropolitan area beginning in July 2027.
The network would connect Tashkent North and Tashkent South railway stations, Tashkent International Airport and the city's central bus terminal.
The number of suburban electric trains operating from Chirchiq, Yangiyul, Angren and Almalyk would increase by 1.5 times, while passengers would be provided with direct transfers to metro stations.
The draft strategy also envisages introducing 20 public transport routes connecting airports, railway stations and bus terminals across Uzbekistan.
The number of routes is expected to increase gradually, from five in 2026 to eight in 2027, 14 in 2028, 16 in 2029 and 20 by 2030.
Another objective is to reduce the average transfer time between different modes of transport from 22 minutes in 2025 to 10 minutes by 2030.
To support this target, six integrated transport hubs are planned in Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, Urgench, Nukus and Ferghana by 2030.
The proposed reforms also include the introduction of a national digital transport platform called Bir Yol, meaning "One Road," from 1 January 2028.
The platform would provide passengers with information on railway services, flights, buses and urban public transport, allowing them to plan door-to-door journeys and purchase a single electronic ticket covering different modes of transport.
From 1 April 2028, the authorities also propose introducing a unified, coordinated timetable for all forms of transport.
By 2030, the strategy aims to increase the proportion of passengers using the integrated digital platform to 25%.
All measures remain proposals under the draft presidential resolution and are subject to the strategy's approval.
