Kazakhstan is nearing completion of the Darbaza–Maktaaral railway, a 127.6-kilometre project designed to open an additional rail route to Uzbekistan and strengthen the region’s transit network. The country’s Transport Ministry expects working traffic to begin by the end of 2026.
A new route to ease pressure on Saryagash–Tashkent
The new line is expected to reduce congestion on the heavily loaded Saryagash–Tashkent section, which currently limits the growth of freight traffic between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. By creating an alternative connection, Kazakhstan aims to increase the resilience of cross-border logistics and expand opportunities for transit shipments across Central Asia.
Construction of the Darbaza–Maktaaral line began in late November 2023. The project, valued at an estimated 545 million US dollars, also includes the planned opening of a new border crossing between the two countries. The route will connect with Uzbekistan’s Syrdarya railway station, providing a new gateway for bilateral and regional freight flows.
Kazakh officials have estimated that the new section could handle up to 20 million tonnes of cargo. The projection reflects the scale of unmet demand along the existing transport corridors, although the actual volume will depend on the pace of border infrastructure development, customs coordination and the ability of operators to integrate the route into regional supply chains.
For international furniture, construction materials, interior and exterior products, manufacturing companies, traders and logistics providers, the project could create a more flexible export and import route between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Improved rail capacity may reduce bottlenecks, support larger shipment volumes and make the two markets more accessible for companies planning regional production, distribution or investment. Its practical impact will depend on how quickly the new border crossing and related logistics services become fully operational.
