Uzbekistan is buying 10 electric trains from Skoda: which routes will they run on?

Uzbekistan is purchasing 10 electric trains from Skoda: which routes will they run on?

In order to renew the suburban railway transport fleet in Uzbekistan, it is planned to purchase 10 modern electric trains from the Czech company Skoda Transportation.

This refers to the SKODA 25Ev model electric trains. They are intended to replace the outdated ER9E series trains. The new trains are designed for 432 seats, whereas in the four-car ER9E train this figure is about 240.

The new electric trains will feature air conditioning systems, USB ports, LED information screens, video surveillance, and automatic fire alarms. Special spaces and a removable ramp for passengers with limited mobility are also provided.

The trains are also distinguished by their energy efficiency. Through the regenerative braking system, part of the energy generated during braking is returned to the contact network. According to calculations, this can reduce electricity consumption by 24–27 percent.

Additionally, due to faster acceleration and braking, travel time on routes with a high number of stations is expected to decrease by 10–15 percent. This could allow for an increase in train frequency without large-scale reconstruction of the existing infrastructure.

It is planned to launch the new electric trains on the following routes:

Tashkent—Chirchiq—Chinorkent;

Tashkent—Yangiyo‘l—Chinoz—Sirdaryo—Guliston — Yangiyer — Xovos—Bekobod;

Toshkent—Nurafshon—Ohangaron—Angren;

Tashkent—Keles;

Qo‘qon—Pop—Namangan—Andijon—Marg‘ilon (ring route);

Samarkand—Bukhara;

Samarkand—Karshi—Shahrisabz.

The purchase of the new electric trains is planned to be carried out within the framework of the program for the development of electric railway transport. At the same time, projects to electrify 182 kilometers of railways and construct 151 kilometers of new railway lines are also being implemented in Uzbekistan.

In May, the Czech company Skoda Group announced that it had signed a strategic agreement to deliver 10 modern electric trains to Uzbekistan. The agreement was signed at the Kuksaroy residence in Tashkent in the presence of Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Abdulla Aripov, and Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babiš.