According to Rail-news.kz, during a working meeting held in Astana, the leadership of JSC “Passenger Transportation” and JSC “O’zbekiston temir yo’llari” signed an agreement to operate tourist trains between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. They also established a working group to oversee the implementation of joint projects.
Both sides highlighted the popularity and significance of the “Jibek Joly” route for their respective countries. Building on its success, they agreed to continue developing the project and to explore the possibility of launching additional international tourist routes. One such proposed route, “Astana-Samarkand,” is currently under consideration and is expected to further enhance the tourism potential of both nations.
Discussions during the meeting also focused on optimizing train schedules for international routes to improve passenger convenience and increase ridership.
The Uzbek delegation proposed adjustments to the schedule of train No. 1/2 “Almaty-Tashkent” to make departure and arrival times more convenient for passengers. This route has become a vital link between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, carrying over 72,000 passengers last year—a testament to its growing popularity. The 988-kilometer journey between the two countries remains an essential part of their transportation network.
The meeting also addressed opportunities for exchanging expertise in passenger transportation management, train maintenance, the introduction of information systems, and the organization of online ticket sales.
Both JSC “Passenger Transportation” and JSC “O’zbekiston temir yo’llari” reaffirmed their commitment to further cooperation, aiming to enhance passenger service quality and boost train travel between the two countries.