The Tashkent City Council of People's Deputies approved the procurement concept amid rising passenger numbers and the ageing of the metro's existing rolling stock.
According to the document, many of the metro's current cars have been in service for several decades, and their service life is gradually coming to an end. At the same time, demand for metro services has increased considerably. Annual passenger numbers rose from 136.7 million in 2022 to 287 million in 2025.
The possibility of purchasing six-car trains was also considered during the planning process. However, some stations have platforms too short to accommodate trains of that length, meaning extensive and costly reconstruction would be required. The authorities therefore opted for five-car trains.
The procurement concept compares proposals from seven manufacturers based in China, Russia, France, Spain, the Czech Republic, South Korea and Japan.
China's CRRC offers the least expensive option, at an estimated $118.3 million for delivery. Japan's Kawasaki is the most expensive, with the cost estimated at $279.1 million. These figures cover train delivery but exclude additional project expenses.
No supplier has been selected yet. Commercial proposals have been received from CRRC and Russia's Global Transport Solutions, while the options offered by the other manufacturers have been assessed using publicly available information.
The choice of supplier will also affect infrastructure costs. If the trains are purchased from a manufacturer outside Russia, a separate depot and maintenance facility will need to be established to service them. The initial estimate for this infrastructure is $10.13 million, excluding land selection, design and project implementation costs.
The purchase is expected to be financed through loans, which would be repaid from the state budget. Deliveries are planned in three stages, with the entire order due by November 1, 2027.
The final purchase price, financing arrangements and delivery schedule will be determined following the procurement process and negotiations with potential suppliers.
