Uzbekistan invests over US$6bn to development of railways

At the same time, the Uzbek leader said that about US$1.8 billion of them were foreign investments.

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 Uzbekistan constructed strategic railroads such as Navoi-Uchquduq-Nukus-Sultanuizdag with bridge over Amudarya and Tashguzar-Baisun-Kumkurgan.

He recalled that Uzbekistan carries out work on electrification of railroad Markaqand-Karshi and Karshi-Termez and construction of new electrified railroad Angren-Pap with construction of 19 km railroad tunnel.

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.