President Shavkat Mirziyoyev has inspected the newly constructed railway line connecting Urgench International Airport and Khiva railway station. According to the presidential press service, the project cost 225 billion soums and involved the construction of an 11-kilometer railway line, one station, a bridge, road crossings, and 25 water drainage structures.
The new route is expected to transport around 650,000 local and foreign tourists annually. Travel time between Khiva and Urgench has been halved, from 80 minutes to 40 minutes. Additionally, about 30 new jobs have been created.
On the Urgench International Airport – Khiva route, a CR200J electric train manufactured in China has been launched. This six-car electric train can carry about 400 passengers at a time and travel at speeds of up to 160 kilometers per hour. The carriages feature VIP, business, and economy class seats, free Wi-Fi, charging ports for electronic devices, modern air conditioning, and heating systems. Facilities for people with disabilities have also been provided.
The head of state traveled to Khiva on the new electric train and also inspected new trolleybuses that will operate on the route connecting Urgench International Airport and Khiva railway station. The 10 trolleybuses, brought from China in July 2026, are equipped with a modern autonomous movement system and can travel up to 100 kilometers without being connected to the power grid.
Each trolleybus is designed for 87 passengers. They include amenities for people with disabilities, elderly people, and passengers with children, USB and Type-C ports, and internal and external surveillance cameras. Safety systems such as driver condition monitoring, lane departure warning, and automatic fire extinguishing are also installed.
The president emphasized that the integration of transport modes will serve to create convenience for residents and tourists, reduce travel time, and enhance the region's tourist appeal. Relevant instructions were given to officials to ensure safe and quality service for passengers.
Trolleybus service between Urgench and Khiva was launched in 1997. Khorezm region is the only area in Uzbekistan where the trolleybus system has been preserved. Initially, trolleybuses ran from Urgench airport, but later the route was shortened to the central city market. The route uses Škoda trolleybuses purchased in 2013. There are nine trolleybuses in total, eight of which are in regular operation.
Source: www.gazeta.uz