Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan will be linked by a new railway line, scheduled to launch in 2027. This project aims to significantly boost the volume of export freight traffic between the two countries.

According to the press service of “Kazakhstan Temir Zholy” (KTZ), the construction of the Darbaza–Maktaaral railway line will help redirect freight traffic from the existing Saryagash–Tashkent route, thereby reducing the load on the Saryagash station and increasing export capacity to Uzbekistan.

The new railway branch will also enhance transport accessibility for two remote districts in the Turkestan region—Maktaaral and Zhetysay—by connecting them with other regions of Kazakhstan.

This investment project, valued at 286 billion tenge, is being implemented by KTZ, a portfolio company of the Samruk-Kazyna fund.

At present, approximately 100 kilometers of rail track out of the planned 203 kilometers have been laid. Earthworks amount to 1.4 million cubic meters out of a total planned 9.5 million cubic meters, representing 15% of the total volume.

The construction involves 46 units of road-building machinery and over 70 workers.

KTZ emphasized that materials from Kazakhstani manufacturers will be used for the railway’s construction. During the project’s implementation phase, 3,400 temporary jobs will be created, and once completed, over 500 permanent positions will be established.