Uzbekistan Railways announces ticket price increase due to rising operational costs
Despite keeping ticket prices unchanged since 2018, Uzbekistan Railways has been facing a significant increase in maintenance costs for trains. The state-owned company, through its subsidiary “Uztemiryulyulovchi,” recently discussed the reasons behind the upcoming rise in ticket prices during a press conference on September 5.
According to representatives from the company, various factors have contributed to the increase in costs. While ticket prices have remained stable for the past few years, expenses related to the wage fund, electricity, and repairs for passenger carriages have surged by 350%, 800%, 180%, and 520%, respectively.
The company highlighted the need to adjust ticket prices to reflect the rising costs of manufacturing train cars, service maintenance, and other related services. In line with this, Uzbekistan Railways saw a 130% increase in revenues from 2023 to 2024, coupled with a 125% decrease in expenses, although detailed information was not provided.
Looking ahead, “Uztemiryulyulovchi” plans to enhance train services by introducing air conditioning, tackling corruption with conductors, modernizing the carriage fleet, improving overall services, and implementing new technologies.
In recent months, Uzbekistan Railways has already raised ticket prices for both express and high-speed trains. Express train fares for the “Nasaf,” “Uzbekistan,” and “Sharq” routes went up by 25% starting from July 1, marking the second increase in 2022 following a 20% hike in January. High-speed Afrosiyob trains also saw multiple fare increases, with a 60% rise last November, followed by additional hikes in January and May.
As Uzbekistan Railways continues to navigate the challenges posed by increasing maintenance costs, passengers can expect some adjustments to ticket prices in the near future to ensure the sustainability of train services in the country.
