Photo from gov.uz
Railway operators from Uzbekistan and Poland have signed a memorandum of cooperation to expand freight shipments and launch regular container train services between the two countries. The agreement was reached on November 9 during bilateral talks in Tashkent, UzDaily reports, citing the press service of Uzbekistan Railways (O‘zbekiston Temir Yo‘llari).
The meeting brought together Zufar Narzullaev, Chairman of the Board of Uzbekistan Railways, and a delegation from Polish State Railways led by Alan Beroud. The two sides discussed boosting freight volumes, attracting additional cargo flows, and laying the groundwork for scheduled container train runs. Special emphasis was placed on setting competitive tariffs to make the new transit corridors more appealing to cargo shippers.
A primary topic on the agenda was developing transit freight traffic between China and Europe via Central Asia. In particular, the sides reviewed prospects for utilizing the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway currently under construction, which is poised to provide an additional transport route from East Asia to European markets. Participants in the talks expect the project to shorten delivery times and broaden the region's overall transit capacity.
The memorandum encompasses not only rail traffic but also multimodal freight operations using several modes of transport. However, specific container train routes, rollout dates, projected cargo volumes, and tariff schedules have not yet been announced.
ℹ️ Uzbekistan is actively working to consolidate its role as a key transport and logistics hub connecting China and the European Union by developing rail links, building cargo terminal networks, and expanding partnerships with European logistics providers. In March 2026, Tashkent reached an agreement with Latvia to widen transport corridors, including routes through Baltic ports, and in July, the two nations agreed to raise quotas for international road haulage permits. In September, Uzbekistan and the EU held talks on investing in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, which aims to provide alternative cargo transit routes between Asia and Europe that bypass Russia.
The construction agreement for the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway was signed in June 2024, followed by a groundbreaking ceremony in December of the same year. Construction costs for the Kyrgyz section are estimated at approximately $4.7 billion. The new arterial line is designed to connect the railway networks of China and Uzbekistan via Kyrgyzstan, serving as an integral link in freight corridors between East Asia and Europe.
