Uzbekistan, South Korea Advance Tashkent–Samarkand High-Speed Rail

Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and South Korea are moving closer to breaking ground on a high-speed rail corridor linking two of Central Asia's most visited cities, with a feasibility study deadline now formally agreed.

Bilateral talks held in South Korea on June 10 brought together Sharafiddin Kodirov, Chief Engineer of JSC Uzbekiston Temir Yullari, Uzbekistan's Ministry of Transport representative Anvar Dushaev, and Saman Corporation Executive Director Hee-Young Lee to advance cooperation on railway infrastructure development.

The central item on the agenda was the Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed rail project, with both sides discussing the current state of collaboration and the preparation of a technical and economic feasibility study. Critically, a timeline for finalizing the feasibility document was agreed upon, based on recommendations from the Export-Import Bank of Korea (KEXIM), which is providing financial guidance on the initiative.

The meeting also confirmed that South Korea's involvement extends beyond the flagship corridor. Korean experts are continuing to provide technical and advisory support for two additional high-speed rail projects: the Tashkent–Andijan and Tashkent–Termez lines — a signal that Seoul's infrastructure ambitions in Uzbekistan span the country's major population and economic arteries.

Both sides concluded the meeting by reaffirming their commitment to continued cooperation and the joint development of transport infrastructure projects.

The Tashkent–Samarkand route, covering approximately 300 kilometers between Uzbekistan's capital and its premier tourist destination, represents one of the most strategically significant rail investments in Central Asia, with the potential to dramatically cut travel times and accelerate both business and tourism flows along the corridor.