Trial freight services have begun on the new Darbaza–Maktaral railway line between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, with the first train carrying Kazakh coal dispatched along the route in October. Kazakhstan’s Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov announced the first shipment at a board meeting of the Samruk-Kazyna fund, describing the new line as an important step in developing transport links between the two countries. The project is designed to ease pressure on the existing Saryagash–Tashkent section, provide access to Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya station and expand freight volumes; the report says full launch is expected in December, while also noting a December 2026 target for full traffic.
Key Takeaways: The first trial train carrying Kazakh coal used the Darbaza–Maktaral line in October, with full launch expected in December. The main section is nearly 130 kilometres, the total line length is 152 kilometres, and construction began in November 2023. The route is intended to relieve the busy Saryagash–Tashkent corridor and connect to Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya station.
The project matters because a significant share of freight between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan currently moves through the Saryagash–Tashkent section, a corridor where additional capacity is limited. A new railway link could redistribute cargo flows, shorten transit times and support growing bilateral trade in raw materials, industrial goods and consumer products. It is also part of a wider effort to strengthen regional transport infrastructure in Central Asia, where rail remains a key mode for moving bulk freight across borders and connecting landlocked economies to external markets.
For Uzbekistan, the line is significant beyond trade with Kazakhstan. According to the report, the additional railway branch could expand transport options toward China, Russia and Belarus and become part of international transport corridors. It is also being considered as one route within the North–South corridor linking regional countries with Iran and Middle Eastern markets. Separately, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan have previously agreed to expand air links, raising the number of flights between Almaty, Astana and Tashkent to 60 per week on each route.
Construction work is still ongoing, and the report says full operation is planned for December 2026. The next stages are expected to include continued testing on completed sections, clarification of freight volumes and station coordination, and integration into international transit routes. The project could improve the competitiveness of rail logistics in Central Asia once fully operational, although the final effect will depend on customs coordination, rolling stock availability and the readiness of neighbouring countries to handle additional cargo volumes.
Source: podrobno.uz