The new high-speed electric train Afrosiyob made its first trip from Tashkent to Samarkand on 26 August.

This important event in the socioeconomic life of Uzbekistan marked the beginning of a new stage of development of the railway system and improvement of the transport services in the country.

Railway workers, government officials, members of the public and representatives of the diplomatic corpus became the first passengers of the Talgo-250 train.

The time of the trip from Tashkent to Samarkand is only two hours, making it one of the most convenient ways to reach the second-largest city in the country.

“In the earlier times, the trip would take eight hours. The trains had no air conditioners or heaters,” chairman of Nuroniy fund’s Samarkand city department Tursun Safarov remembered.

The high-speed train investment project was agreed during the visit of the President of Uzbekistan to Spain in 2009. Uzbekistan Railways and Patentes Talgo S.L. signed a Memorandum on mutual cooperation and reached a deal on purchase of two trains.

In January 2010, President Islam Karimov signed a resolution on purchase of two high-speed passenger trains Talgo-250, first of which was delivered this July.

The Afrosiyob electric train was designed by Patentes Talgo using unique technologies. Experts of Uzbekistan Railways, with the help of the Spanish partners, carried out the necessary work to adapt the rail roads of the country for the new train, havign established a modern system of security and radio communication.

The train consists of two locomotives, eight passenger coaches and a dining car. It is provided with necessary facilities for the passengers with disabilities. Afrosiyob, which has a maximum speed of 250 kmh, passes the distance between Tashkent and Samarkand (344 km) in just two hours. The train drivers and staff were trained in Spanish companies Talgo and Renfe.

The first passengers of Afrosiyob shared their impressions with UzA correspondent.

“The launch of this modern and comfortable train is a great achievement of the people of Uzbekistan. Your country has advanced before many countries in this regard, including the United States. We don’t have such high-speed trains,” Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Uzbekistan George Krol said. “The railway is a prospective sector in development of the country’s economy and tourism.”

“It is a great honor for me to be among the first passengers of the new train,” said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Great Britain Rupert Joy. “The fact that this momentous event takes place on the eve of the 20th anniversary of independence of Uzbekistan has a special meaning. This signifies that Uzbekistan is confidently following the chosen path and is reaching huge successes. The greatest achievement of the country is peace and stability.”

“It is noteworthy that Uzbekistan pays a great attention to the development of the railway sector,” said Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Poland Marian Przezdziecki. “As the international experience shows, rail transport is the most promising industry, and it will remain such in the future. In recent years, an increasing number of Polish tourists come to your country. The launch of the high-speed train is of a great importance in improving the quality of transport services for the population and foreign visitors.”

“I am very pleased to be one of the first passengers of the new train operating between the two unique cities of Uzbekistan, and I express my sincere gratitude to the leadership of Uzbekistan for providing such an opportunity,” said the dean of the diplomatic corpus, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Turkmenistan to Uzbekistan Soltan Pirmuhamedov. “This modern and comfortable train demonstrates the consistend development of the rail industry in Uzbekistan, and new approaches and standards of service for passengers. I congratulate the brotherly people of Uzbekistan with this success.”

Prior to the organization of the Afrosiyob train, a large-scale work was held to modernize the rail infrastructure along the Tashkent-Samarkand route. Rail distance of 600 km was rehabilitated, and 68 km of new railways were laid. A new double-track section with length of over 35.3 km was built between Yangiyer and Dashtobod, as well as a 142-meter-long tunnel and four bridges with a total length of 400 meters.

The communication and alarm systems were modernized, safety zones were established with concrete barriers and metal bars, and pedestrian crossings were constructed to ensure traffic safety. Besides, Tashkent and Samarkand railway stations were renovated to improve safety and comfort of the passengers.

The passengers of the first Afrosiyob train took part in the opening ceremony of the eighth international music festival Sharq Taronalari in Samarkand. They returned to the capital on the same day.

UzA.uz

28.08.2011 11:50