Uzbek leader congratulates Uzbekistan Temir Yollari’s team with jubilee

“It gives me great pleasure to cordially congratulate you all with the landmark date in the life of our country - the 20th anniversary of the creation of the State joint stock railway company Uzbekistan Temir Yollari,” the message reads.

Uzbek leader said that the company passed difficult development path and currently it is single system of railway transport communication.

Islam Karimov said that currently about 60% of cargoes and 75% of passengers are transported by railway.

Uzbekistan has significant transport-communication and transit potential, linking with railroads East and West, South and North, Islam Karimov said.

President recalled that Uzbekistan constructed over 1,100 km of new roads and modernized 3,800 km of railroads. He said that the country electrified about 1,000 km of railroads. All these helped to increase total length of railroads up to 6,500 km and cover all regions of Uzbekistan, he said.

Uzbek head said that launch of new railroads Navoi-Uchquduq-Nukus-Sultanuizdag with construction of bridge over Amudarya river and Tashguzar-Baisun-Kumkurgan play a strategic importance for perspective development of the country.

New railroad Tashguzar-Baisun-Kumkurgan with the length of 223 km, constructed with participation of Japan Bank for International Cooperation in difficult weather conditions, passes mountain pass with the height of 1,500 m over sea level and is unique object, which has no analogue in Central Asia.

Islam Karimov said that electrification of railroad Maroqand-Karshi and Karshi-Termez is underway with fast speed. Launch of new railroads open new opportunities for further development of economic potential of northern and southern regions of Uzbekistan, complex utilization of rich fields of mineral resources, oil and gas, non-ferrous metals, construction materials, etc.

Uzbekistan pins great hopes with implementation of one of largest projects in transport communication – construction of new electrified railroad Angren-Pap with 19 km tunnel with participation of Chinese partners, he said.

Launch of the railway in July 2016 will help link regions of Ferghana Valley with central parts of Uzbekistan and complete formation of single railway transport system in the country, he said. Karimov added that new railway will be important part of new international transit railway corridor China-Central Asian-Europe, he added.

President Islam Karimov said that modernization of rail fleet also plays important role in improving quality of transport services. He said that the company purchased 38 modern electric locomotives and 10 passenger diesel locomotives and modernized 150 locomotives.

Modern high speed electric train “Afrosiob”, produced by Spanish Talgo, is pride of Uzbekistan, President said. He said only eight countries have such trains. Uzbek leader said the train runs between Tashkent and Samarkand each day and passes 344 km between two cities only in 2 hours.

He said that 11 new railway stations were constructed and seven were reconstructed, which changed their look. They were equipped with modern equipment and technologies, Islam Karimov added.

Uzbekistan directed over US$6 billion of capital investments to development of railway transport and its infrastructure, of which US$1.8 billion were foreign investment, President stated.

Uzbek leader praised divisions of Uzbekistan Temir Yollari such as Uztemiryolyolovchi, Uzjeldorkontainer, Tashkent plant on construction and repair of passenger wagons, Uztemiryolmashtamir, and others, which construct and reconstruct wagons.

However, he said that gold fund of the company are its team, which unites over 70,000 specialists of various specialization.