Construction is nearing completion on the 127.6-km Darbaza-Maktaaral railway line in Kazakhstan, and operations are expected to begin before the end of 2026, Kazakhstan's Transport Ministry said.
The new line will give Kazakhstan an additional route to Uzbekistan, ease pressure on the congested Saryagash-Tashkent section and expand transit freight capacity in the region.
Work on the Darbaza-Maktaaral line began in late November 2023, with the project's cost estimated at $545 million. It also includes a new border crossing between the two countries, connecting to Syrdarya railway station.
In April, Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister Serik Zhumangarin said that congestion on transport corridors, including the Saryagash-Tashkent route, is holding back trade growth between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. He estimated that the new line could carry 20 million tonnes of freight.
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