A Window To Central Asia

For many years, Russian Railways has been closely cooperating with Uzbekistan Temir Yullari (UTY) to develop passenger transportation within the framework of the Organization for Cooperation Between Railways (OSJD). Passenger trains Tashkent-Samara-Tashkent, Tashkent-Volgograd-Tashkent and Tashkent-Novosibirsk-Tashkent currently run between Russia and Uzbekistan. 

According to UTY statistics, over 23,000 passengers bought train tickets to travel from Uzbekistan to Russia from June to December 2022. During the same period, 48,400 people traveled by train in the opposite direction. The period from January 1 to February 28, 2023 saw 15,600 people travel from Uzbekistan to Russia and 3,200 thousand – from Russia to Uzbekistan.
 
Railway tourism

In 2016, Uzbekistan began reforming its tourism sector by modernizing the tourism infrastructure and developing rail tourism. According to UTY, six modern high-speed trains under the brand Afrosiyob currently operate on the two lines: Tashkent-Samarkand-Bukhara and Tashkent-Samarkand-Qarshi. The trains can reach speeds of up to 230 km/hour. Thanks to this technology, tourists can travel around Uzbekistan with ease and in comfort admiring the local nature. In addition, the UTY network of fast night trains take passengers to all of the country’s regional centers.

Passenger trains connecting Andijan with Kungrad or with Termez are another convenient way to travel around the country. Since 2022, international passenger rail service has also connected Tashkent with Almaty and Tashkent with Dushanbe.

According to UTY’s press service, today all of 33 railway stations located on the territory of the Republic of Uzbekistan fully comply with the security standards. All the railway stations cater to tourists’ needs: there are exchange offices, ATMs, info-kiosks, rest rooms, shopping and souvenir stores.

The ticket booking service www.chipta.railway.uz has been growing popular with every passing year. Foreign tourists can easily buy tickets online and pay with international cards. During official holiday celebrations local passengers are given ticket discounts. Additionally, special group discounts are available for tourist groups.

Charter Trains in Central Asia 

Jointly with the German travel company Lernidee Erlebnisreisen and the British travel company Golden Eagle Luxury Trains, UTY organizes tourist charter rail journeys around Central Asian cities.

Thus, in cooperation with the German travel companies Lernidee Erlebnisreisen and Orient Silk, UTY ran two chartered trains in the fall of 2022. In September, “Road Express” traveled along the route Almaty - Bishkek - Tashkent - Kokan - Kamashi - Kitab - Samarkand - Khujand - Khiva - Bukhara - Tashkent. A month later the second tourist train “Orient Silk Road Express” took passengers along the route Almaty - Tashkent - Kamashi - Kitab - Samarkand - Khiva - Bukhara - Khujand - Tashkent.

A total of 70 passengers included tourists from Norway, Switzerland, France, Germany and the United States who met in Germany, flew from Frankfurt am Main to Tashkent where they boarded a charter train to enjoy a week-long journey along the Great Silk Road.
 
The charter train consists of 11 cars: four deluxe class cars (8 seats each), four superior comfort cars with an own shower room (16 seats), two dining cars and one car for the train crew.
 
This train is a perfect mix of Western and Eastern cultures. While a part of the rolling stock was manufactured in Uzbekistan at the Tashkent Car Building Plant, the other part is owned by Russian Railways. As you walk from car to car, the surroundings change: the interior, the kitchenware, the cuisine served in the restaurant and other things.
 
All cars are designed in national style. The walls in the locally produced part of the rolling stock use Uzbek miniature style decorations. In addition, each car is equipped with a TV set, a closet, a lavatory and other necessary items.

Olga Shelkova