Uzbekistan to acquire 24 electric locomotives with the ADB loan. Credit: Aleksejs Ivanovs from Pixabay.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has awarded a $170m loan to support the modernisation and upgrade of Uzbekistan’s locomotive fleet.

The loan amount will support the acquisition of 24 electric locomotives. Overall, the project will cost $218.3m, with the Government of Uzbekistan contributing $48.3m.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Go deeper with GlobalData

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

Discover B2B Marketing That Performs

Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.

Find out more

Out of the 24 units, 16 locomotives will be optimised for freight trains, while the remaining eight vehicles will be used for hauling passenger trains.

A locomotive depot in Tashkent called O’zbekiston will also be upgraded to carry out necessary maintenance of the fleet.

Once introduced, the locomotives are expected to improve freight and passenger railway services, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 900,000t annually.

The ADB support is aligned with the CAREC Railway Strategy 2017–2030, which emphasises bolstering railway connectivity to support economic growth in Central Asia.

GlobalData Strategic Intelligence

US Tariffs are shifting - will you react or anticipate?

Don’t let policy changes catch you off guard. Stay proactive with real-time data and expert analysis.

By GlobalData

The project is slated to be completed by June 2025.

Uzbekistan’s 4,669km railway network supports around 40% of freight volumes in the country and about 4% of land transport passenger volume.

Nearly 2,350km, or more than 50% of the country’s railway network, is electrified.

ADB Central and West Asia Senior Transport Specialist Ko Sakamoto said: “Having a cleaner, more efficient and reliable transport network, in the form of electrified railways, will help boost Uzbekistan’s growth and maximise the country’s potential as a transport hub at the heart of Central Asia.”

ADB has been associated with multiple railway projects in Uzbekistan. In April 2017, it approved an $80m loan for the electrification of a 145km-long rail line connecting the cities of Pap, Namangan and Andijan.

In September 2011, ADB awarded a $100m loan for the electrification of a 140km-long Marakand-Karshi rail line.

Railway Technology Excellence Awards - Nominations Closed

Nominations are now closed for the Railway Technology Excellence Awards. A big thanks to all the organisations that entered – your response has been outstanding, showcasing exceptional innovation, leadership, and impact across the defence sector.

Excellence in Action
MTR Corporation and Dragages Hong Kong triumphed in three categories – Research & Development, Environmental and Safety – for their Kwu Tung Station project . Learn how this future Northern Link–East Rail Line interchange sets new benchmarks in digital construction, decarbonisation and safety management.

Discover the Impact