Uzbekistan moves forward with plans to bring back Tashkent trams

According to journalist Aziza Kurbonova, the roadmap was inked by Sharof Rahmonov, Deputy Mayor of Tashkent, and Laurent Saint-Martin, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Citizens Abroad.

This development was announced on March 12 at an event held at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. However, Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport and Tashkent’s city administration have yet to release any official statements or additional details on the matter.

The French company Alstom was first reported to be involved in constructing a tram line in Tashkent during Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s visit to France in November 2022.

At that time, another roadmap for the project was signed, with Deputy Prime Minister of Uzbekistan Jamshid Khodjaev and French Minister for Foreign Trade Olivier Becht as the signatories.

Under the initial plan, Alstom was set to construct a 9.1 km-long tram line in Tashkent, with a daily passenger capacity of 78,000. The construction was scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2024, with the project valued at €167.4 million.

In 2024, Alstom Vice President Sasha Parne attended the Tashkent Investment Forum, where he noted that building a tram system in New Tashkent was a priority for Uzbek officials. He emphasized the need for a transport study to support the tram’s reintroduction and described reviving the city’s old tram routes as a good idea.

The 2023 concept plan for New Tashkent included a harmonized metro and tram system.

The 2025 state program draft originally included a provision to develop a feasibility study for the tram project by September, but this item was omitted from the final version approved by presidential decree.

Background

Tashkent’s tram system dates back to 1901, when horse-drawn trams were first introduced. Electric trams were launched in 1912 but were completely discontinued in May 2016.

The decommissioned Tashkent trams were later repurposed for Samarkand, where a tram network was launched in 2017. Recently, there have been reports that a third tram route may be introduced in Samarkand.