Uzbekistan’s Plan to Revive Tashkent Trams Gains Momentum
During President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s state visit to France, a significant development took place with the signing of a roadmap for the reintroduction of tram services in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. The agreement was signed by Sharof Rahmonov, Deputy Mayor of Tashkent, and Laurent Saint-Martin, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Citizens Abroad.
Journalist Aziza Kurbonova reported on the signing of the roadmap at an event held at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs on March 12. Despite this announcement, there has been no official statement or additional details released by Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport or Tashkent’s city administration.
The French company Alstom has been named as the key player in the construction of the tram line in Tashkent since President Mirziyoyev’s visit to France in November 2022. A previous roadmap for the project was signed during that visit, with Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev and French Minister for Foreign Trade Olivier Becht as signatories.
The initial plan called for Alstom to construct a 9.1 km-long tram line in Tashkent, with a daily passenger capacity of 78,000. Construction was set to commence in the second quarter of 2024, with the project valued at €167.4 million.
Alstom Vice President Sasha Parne highlighted the importance of building a tram system in New Tashkent during the Tashkent Investment Forum in 2024. He stressed the need for a comprehensive transport study to support the tram’s reintroduction, citing the idea of revitalizing the city’s old tram routes.
The concept plan for New Tashkent in 2023 included a coordinated metro and tram system. Although the 2025 state program draft initially included a provision for developing a feasibility study for the tram project by September, this item was ultimately omitted from the final version approved by presidential decree.
Tashkent’s tram system has a rich history, dating back to 1901 with the introduction of horse-drawn trams. Electric trams were later introduced in 1912 but were discontinued in May 2016. The decommissioned trams were repurposed for Samarkand, where a tram network was established in 2017. Recent reports suggest that a third tram route may be introduced in Samarkand in the near future.
