Uzbekistan and Türkiye to Launch Regular Container Trains via Turkmenistan and Iran

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and Türkiye have reached an agreement to launch regular container train services along the Uzbekistan–Turkmenistan–Iran–Türkiye route.

The arrangement was finalized during the fourth session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Ankara, co-chaired by Presidents Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

The new rail route will serve as a key link in the logistics chain connecting Central Asian countries with European markets, aiming to enhance the resilience of regional trade. The development of this corridor is expected to accelerate export deliveries, reduce logistics costs for businesses, and provide more predictable cargo transit times.

The project is part of contemporary initiatives to revive the Silk Road.

According to forecasts, transport via this route will take nearly half the time compared to maritime shipping through the Suez Canal, making it particularly attractive for exporters and logistics companies.

The institutional foundation for the route is the protocol of the multilateral meeting of the transport authorities of Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Iran, and Türkiye, signed on 3 November 2023.