Author: Andrew Grantham

Uzbekistan Railways launches ‘high speed’ freight services to Afghanistan

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With the aim of supporting small and private-sector Uzbek exporters, Uzbekistan’s national railway UTY has launched a thrice-weekly accelerated freight service to Afghanistan. This ‘high speed’ service reduces the normal transit time from Tashkent to Hairatan from 5-6 days to 2 days.

The first of the ‘high speed’ freight trains left Tashkent on 16 April with 14 wagons, and an additional 36 wagons were attached along the route. As of 24 April 2020 four trains had been operated, moving a total of 218 wagons.

UTY said it accepts all types of cargo, and provides various types of wagons, containers and tanks. Payment is made ‘in any convenient form’, and the transport tariff remains unchanged.

Details: Information for entrepreneurs on high-speed freight trains, Uzbekistan Railways, 24 April 2020

Turkmen-Afghan talks in the field of transport

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TURKMEN-AFGHAN TALKS IN THE FIELD OF TRANSPORT

On April 16, 2020, a video conference was held between the representatives of the “Türkmendemirýollary” agency [=Turkmenistan’s national railway], open joint-stock company “Demiryollary” and the Railway Authority of the Ministry of Transport of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan.

The Turkmen side was headed by the Chairman of the “Türkmendemirýollary” agency A.Atamyradov. The Afghan side was led by the General Director of the Railway Authority of Afghanistan Mohammad Yamma Shams.

During the meeting, issues related to the construction of the Akina-Andkhoy railway line, the work carried out under the project for the construction of the Turgundi-Herat railway were discussed.

The participants also exchanged views on optimizing transit freight traffic and wagons passing through the IRA, further developing of the transport corridor between the Lapis Lazuli agreement participating countries. Separately, issues of obtaining visas for railway workers and other issues were considered.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkmenistan

Trains in the Visiting Hairatan Port with Mitra video

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The video Afghan Scene – Visiting Hairatan Port with Mitra / افغان سین – سفر دیدنی میترا به بندر حیرتان from “Toot” includes some railway action, including the presenter enthusiastically greeting a maintenance vehicle at 2:20 and a locomotive hauling an single Uzbek Railways liveried coach at 2:56.

Freight arriving at Hayratan

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Friendship Bridge photos

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Italian loan for Herat railway project

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On 15 January 2020 the Afghan parliament approved a €65m long-term loan from Italy for the Rabat Beryan to Herat airport section of the Khaf – Herat railway project. The 40-year loan with a 29 year grace period will be paid in installments of €40m, €40m and €25m, and no interest will be charged.[1]

The route from Robat Paryan/Rabat Pariyan to the Herat (هرات‎‎) industrial area and airport forms the ~20 km Stage 4 Phase 2 of the Iran to Herat railway.

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  1. House passes Italy loan for railway project, Afghanistan Times, 15 January 2020 ↩

Wolesi Jirga approves presidential decree on draft railway law

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A draft railway law was approved by the Wolesi Jirga on 28 October 2019.

The Lower House of Parliament on Monday’s plenary session confirmed president’s legislative decrees regarding to law of railway and annex #(3) law of principles of commercial courts.
[…]
Overall in accordance to agenda, the president’s legislative decree in relation to law of railway in order to obtaining of vote was presented in the session by chief and members of the national economy commission Akbar Sultanzada, Obaidullah Kalimzai and Halima Askari.

In result, the mentioned decree in 11 chapters and 58 articles by adding of item 2nd and 3rd in article 54 was confirmed with majority votes.

Source: Wolesi Jirga confirms president’s legislative decrees regarding to law of railway and annex (3) law of principles of commercial courts, 28 October 2019.

First Afghanistan to China rail freight service

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An inaugural service carrying freight for export to China by rail left Hairatan on 5 September 2019.1 It was carrying 1 100 tonnes of talc in 41 containers, which were expected to arrive in China’s Jiangxi province in around 14 days, travelling 6 700 km via Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

The locomotive from Uzbekistan’s national railway UTY and the containers were decorated with banners showing the flags of the four countries, and a portrait of King Amanullah.

Guests at the despatch of the first export train included Minister of Transport Yama Yari, various national and local government officials and representatives of the embassies of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and China.

The first rail freight service from China to Afghanistan ran in September 2016, but the start of services in the opposite direction was delayed by bureaucratic issues.

  1. Afghanistan – China rail freight service sets off, Railway Gazette International, 9 September 2019. ↩