The first railway line from Turkmenabat (present day Turkmenistan) reached Samarkand in present day Uzbekistan in 1888. Today Uzbekistan has an extensive railway network and numerous international connections with adjacent countries. Travelling by train in Uzbekistan is the best way to explore most important places in this country.
Last update: 10.05.2024
In September 2011 was opened Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed rail line.
In 2017 the railway line from Navoi to Miskin near the border with Turkmenistan (355 km) was inaugurated.
A popular children’s railway in Tashkent was closed in 2017. Rolling stock fleet was moved to Bekabad and installed as train-monument.
Train travel in Uzbekistan – timetable and prices
Both passenger and freight trains in Uzbekistan are operated by Uzbekistan Railways (O’zbekiston temir yo’llari), stated-owned company, which was established on 7 November 1994. It is recommended to buy train tickets well in advance through local travel agencies, because trains are often sell out. You can buy ticket at the station if someone cancelled the ticket. Basic information about train connections and timetables can be found on the following websites:
Uzbekistan Railways website
Train schedule
Online shop of Uzbekistan Railways
Site of Uzbekistan Railways may or may not work and timetable may be not reliable.
Timetables for the most important railway stations in Uzbekistan:
Bukhara (poezdato.net)
Khiva (poezdato.net)
Nukus (poezdato.net)
Samarkand (poezdato.net)
Tashkent (poezdato.net)
Train travel in Uzbekistan – basic information
There are convenvenient train connections between major cities in Uzbekistan. Long-distance trains in Uzbekistan varied – there are old Soviet-era trains and modern Talgo multiple units. In addition, suburban trains run in Tashkent.
Types of the long-distance trains in Uzbekistan
Sharq – daytime trains with mainly Soviet-era carriages. It runs between Tashkent and Bukhara, Samarkand and Bukhara and from Navoi to Tashkent and Bukhara. Journey takes from 1h 30m to almost 7 hours. In these trains you can choose following classes of carriages:
SV – 2-bed compartment (yes, for daytime train)
1st class – compartment for 3 to 6 people with table and TV
2nd class – open coaches with row of seats and aisle
In each train you can find a restaurant car.
Afrosiyob – brand name fastest and most comfortable train in Uzbekistan (Talgo 250). Each trainset consists VIP-class carriages, Business-class carriages, Economy class carriages and bistro car. Talgo supplied first two trainsets for the 344 km Tashkent – Samarkand route in 2011, another trainsets were delivered in 2017 and 2019. Afrosiyob trains runs daily from Tashkent to Bukhara and Khasi and stops at Samarkand railway station. All carriages are equipped with air-conditioning and vacuum toilets. Next to the seats are power and USB sockets. Smoking is prohibited. The maximum speed is 250 kilometers per hour.
Tickets for the Afrosiyob trains are expensive.
Ozbekiston – modern trains from Tashkent to Fergana Valley. Trains run from Tashkent to Andijan with Pap, Kokand, and Margilan through mountain pass and long tunnels. The trains are comprised of modern carriages with air-conditioning. There are three classes: Economy, Business and VIP.
Night trains in Uzbekistan
Overnight passenger trains in Uzbekistan are typical for countries of the former Soviet Union. Some of them are very old and dirty, some are decent. They are slower than daytime trains, but you can sleep comfortably. No matter whether you will travel in platzkart class or kupe. Night trains in Uzbekistan are relatively cheap. They connects Tashkent with remote cities and have more stops. Each carriage is equipped with samovar but has no air-conditioning.
You can choose between three class:
platzkart – open wagon with bunks (54 beds)
kupe – 4-berth compartment
SV/Lux – 2-berth first class compartment
Some of the “Kupe” and platskart carriages have been refurbished in recent years. Refurbished carriages are equipped with air-conditioning and vacuum toilets.
LUX/SV (1st class) – double compartments with comfortable, fold-out beds. The standard varies depending on the train – you may find compartments with televisions. The carriages are usually air-conditioned and additionally soundproofed. One carriage usually has 8 compartments and 16 seats.
Kupe «K» – sleeping car “Kupe” or “Kupiejy”. Most common sleeping car with 4-bed compartments. Two upper beds and two lower beds. Each carriage has nine separate compartments with four bunks.
Platskart car “PL” – couchette car popular in Ex-USRR countries. Cheap and comfortable option with unique atmosphere but no privacy. The open-class carriage consists of 54 bunks, arranged in bays of 4 on one side and bays of 2 on another. There is an aisle between the two sides. In practice, it is an ordinary carriage without compartments, with places to sleep. Reviews of travelers vary – some are bothered by the lack of privacy, others love these carriages for the opportunity to get to interaction with fellow passengers. There is a storage compartment under the lower bunk where you can store your luggage, so you don’t have to worry about someone stealing it at night.
Apart from long-distance trains there are suburban trains in Tashkent. These trains are old Soviet-era electric multiple units or old carriages with locomitive. Suburban trains ar slower than long-distance trains, uncomfortable, sometimes overcrowded but very cheap. In 2022 Uzbekistan railways introduced high-speed suburban service Tashkent – Chirchik – Khojikent.
Suburban trains run on the following routes:
Tashkent – Chirchik – Khojikent
Taskhent – Yangiyo – Sirdaryo
Tashkent – Guliston – Bekobod
Suburban train starts from Southern Station in Tashkent.
International trains
There are international passenger trains from Uzbekistan to most of adjacent countries and to Russia.
Kazakhstan
There are a fast and convenient passenger trains from Tashkent to Almaty and Atyrau and probably lower quality train from Nukus to Beineu.
Kyrgyzstan
It’s unclear if runs summer train from Tashkent to Bishkek and Balykchy. Southern Line of Kyrgyzstan railway network from Osh (second largest city in Kyrgyzstan) to Jalal-Abad or Kok-Yangak is divided by Uzbekistan territory but is non-operational.
Russia
There are numerous trains from Uzbekistan to Russia.
Tajikistan
According to Tajik Railways website, passenger train from Dushanbe to Kulob runs once a week through Uzbekistan. I don’t know whether it stops in Uzbekistan. Trains from Kulob and Khodent in Tajikistan to Russia runs throught Uzbekistan.
In 2022 train from Dushanbe to Tashkent ran once a week but was suspended. Current status is unknown. Check the timetable.
Turkmenistan
There are no passenger trains between Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
Ukraina
Train Tashkent – Kyiv was cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic.
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