Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Nov. 10
By Demir Azizov- Trend:
"Uzbekistan Temir Yollari" ("Uzbekistan Railways") JSC and Spanish Parentes Talgo S. A. have signed a contract to purchase two high-speed electric trains, the AVE 250, at a cost of 38 million euros, the Uzbek railway company said.
The new electric trains are to be delivered to Uzbekistan in 2017.
The contract will be financed through funds from Uzbekistan Railways and a loan issued by the Uzbek Reconstruction and Development Fund.
Uzbekistan Railways began carrying out a project in January 2015 to develop high-speed train traffic through the Samarkand-Bukhara railway at a cost of $400 million. The project must be completed by late 2016. The new trains are planned to be used on this route.
Two high-speed trains, the AVE 250 purchased from Parentes Talgo S.A. in 2009, are now being used by Uzbek railways.
Currently, the electric trains are carrying passengers on the Tashkent-Samarkand route. The launching of high-speed trains on this popular tourist route has reduced travel times from 3.5 to 2 hours.
Some 60 percent of cargo turnover in the country, and almost 80 percent of the total volume of exports and import cargo transportation, is carried by Uzbekistan's railways.