Uzbekistan Quality Job Creation as a Cornerstone for Sustainable Economic Growth

Uzbekistan Quality Job Creation as a Cornerstone for Sustainable Economic Growth
As of 2018, the railway network comprised 4,641 route-km of rail track, of which 
36% (1,684 km) is electrified (Figure 2.4). These railroad tracks are generally 
suitable for trains with speeds up to 160 km/hour. High-speed passenger trains 
that operate between Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara, and Karshi can reach 
speeds up to 250km/hour. 
Uzbekistan’s electrification rates are among the best in Central and West 
Asia. Among neighboring countries, electrification rates are 100% in Georgia, 
60% in Azerbaijan, and 29% in Kazakhstan. Continued electrification of the 
railway systems will require more investment for the country to reap energy 
and environmental benefits and increase transit traffic in the region.
Railways are the main mode of transporting freight in and out of Uzbekistan 
due to fewer delays at borders than for road traffic. The international railway 
corridors crossing Uzbekistan span approximately 2,154 km (excluding shared 
route sections). Railways carry about 75% of international freight. Freight 
and passenger traffic increased moderately during 2011–2016. Freight traffic 
grew from 22.5 billion ton-km to 22.9 billion ton-km, while passenger traffic 
increased from 3.0 billion passenger-km to 3.9 billion passenger-km.
The latest 
available data show that traffic remained the same for freight, at 33 million 
tons in the first halves of 2017 and 2018; and passenger traffic increased from
10.9 million in the first half of 2017 to 11.7 million in the first half of 2018
(Table 2.2). 
km= kilometer.
Notes: 2014 and 2015 data are from Uzbekistan statistics data which did not have a breakdown on 
electrification, 2016–2018 data are as of the first half of these years.
Sources: For 2005–2013 data: Yoshino, N. and U. Abidhadjaev (2015); for 2014–2015 data, Uzbekistan 
Statistics https://www.stat.uz/en/ (accessed 14 December 2018); for 2016–2018 data: Uzbekistan Railways 
http://railway.uz/en/gazhk/statisticheskie-dannye (accessed 14 December 2018).