Core Insights - Uzbekistan's railway industry is projected to achieve net profit for the first time in 2024, with net profit exceeding 800 billion soums (approximately 64.5 million USD) in the first nine months of 2025 [1] Industry Developments - The railway sector has seen growth in transit cargo volume, passenger numbers, exports, and investment scale [1] - Plans are in place to double passenger and freight volumes by 2026-2030, which includes the construction of 151 kilometers of new railway and the electrification of 182 kilometers [1] - Modernization efforts will target 27 stations and 1,000 kilometers of railway, alongside the addition of 15 suburban lines [1] Strategic Initiatives - The construction of the Navoi-Bukhara high-speed railway, spanning 102 kilometers, is being accelerated [1] - To meet the demands of new and ongoing projects, Uzbekistan plans to procure 38 mainline locomotives, 50 shunting locomotives, and hybrid shunting locomotives from China [1] - Additional imports include 6 high-speed trains from South Korea's Hyundai Rotem, the production of 250 modern passenger cars, and 10,000 freight cars [1] - The plan also includes the procurement of 23 intercity electric trains and the maintenance of over 6,000 freight cars and 12 electric locomotives [1] Strategic Importance - The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway is deemed strategically significant for enhancing connectivity in Central Asia and improving Uzbekistan's transit capacity [1] - Emphasis is placed on ensuring high-quality construction of this project [1] - Specific directives have been issued for timely and high-quality advancement of railway network modernization and expansion projects, incorporating digital technologies and artificial intelligence to optimize costs and create a more comfortable, safe, and reliable railway environment [1]