The heads of the railways of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan discussed infrastructure development at Darbaza-Maktaaral

25-03-2026

As part of a working visit to the Darbaza-Maktaaral line under construction, Talgat Aldybergenov, Chairman of the Board of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, met with Zufar Narzullaev, Chairman of the Board of JSC Uzbekistan Railways. The meeting, held at Maktaaral station, focused on freight transportation results and prospects for developing border rail infrastructure.

The parties noted record-breaking cooperation: 2025 was the best year in the past 10 years, with the volume of shipments between the countries reaching 32.3 million tonnes, a 16% increase compared to 2024. Kazakhstan's exports also demonstrated strong momentum, reaching 13 million tonnes (an increase of 8.5%), while grain shipments to Uzbekistan increased by 32%, exceeding 4.5 million tonnes. The positive trend continues in 2026: in the first two months, freight volume already reached 6.6 million tons, representing a 37.5% increase compared to the same period last year. The parties forecast a further increase in freight traffic by the end of 2026.

Particular attention was paid during the negotiations to the intensive construction of the new Darbaza-Maktaaral line with access to the Maktaaral-Syrdarya interstate crossing point. The heads of the railway administrations exchanged information on the development of connections and infrastructure modernization, including the implementation of modern automatic block and interlocking systems. Having commended the state of bilateral relations, the parties confirmed their intention to continue close dialogue to strengthen the region's transit potential.

Press service of JSC «NC«Kazakhstan Temir Zholy»