A new electric passenger train has begun service between Tashkent and Bekabad, providing a modern rail connection along the 192-kilometre route. The service was introduced under a presidential decree issued on December 27, 2025, which calls for higher domestic passenger volumes and wider regional rail coverage by 2030. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev travelled to Bekabad aboard the train and reviewed the completed modernisation work.

The six-coach train can carry 586 passengers and reach speeds of up to 120 kilometres per hour. Operators expect the service to transport about 1,000 passengers daily and approximately 300,000 people each year. It is expected to be particularly useful for residents who regularly travel between the two cities for work or education.

Passenger facilities include air conditioning, heating, comfortable seating, Wi-Fi and USB charging ports. The train also has lifts for passengers with disabilities and designated areas for bicycles. Video-surveillance equipment and electronic information boards have been installed throughout the coaches.

Officials expect the service to reduce pressure on highways while increasing the use of lower-emission public transport. Improved rail access could also make daily journeys more reliable and comfortable for communities along the route. The project forms part of a wider effort to upgrade passenger rail services across Uzbekistan.

Following his review, Mirziyoyev instructed the responsible departments to continue electrifying railway lines and improving station facilities. He also requested better passenger services, organised travel flows and upgrades to areas surrounding railway stations.