China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Advances, Offering Central Asia New China Rail Link

September 17, 2026 at 12:08 PM2 min

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Construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway has reached a large-scale stage, with 26 of 29 tunnels underway on the Kyrgyz section. The line will provide an alternative rail route from China to Central Asia, reducing the region's dependence on Kazakhstan. Completion is planned for 2030.

Key Facts

The Kyrgyz section of the railway includes 29 tunnels, with construction started on 26 by late August.
The total line length exceeds 530 km, with about 304 km in Kyrgyzstan.
The Kyrgyz section is estimated to cost approximately $4.7 billion, with Chinese banks providing half as a 35-year loan.
Kazakhstan is currently the only Central Asian country with direct rail border crossings with China.
In the first ten months of 2025, rail transit from China through Kazakhstan to Central Asia, Europe, and the EAEU reached 11.04 million tonnes.

Construction Progress

Construction of the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway reached a large-scale stage by late August. On the Kyrgyz section, work began on 26 of 29 planned tunnels, with one tunnel already fully bored through. Work is also underway on 40 of 50 bridges and on 83 of 107 roadbed sections. Full-scale construction across Kyrgyzstan began on June 30, 2025, following the official start on December 27, 2024 in Jalal-Abad. The project is scheduled for completion by 2030.

Route and Specifications

The railway will run from Kashgar through Torugart, Makmal, and Jalal-Abad to Andijan. The total length exceeds 530 km, with approximately 304 km on Kyrgyz territory. The Kyrgyz section is designed as a single-track line with train speeds up to 120 km/h. The Kyrgyz Ministry of Transport plans 20 stations, including the Torugart border station and the Makmal transshipment station. The project uses two track gauges: the Chinese standard of 1435 mm from Torugart to Makmal, and the Central Asian standard of 1520 mm from Makmal to Jalal-Abad.

Financing and Strategic Role

The Kyrgyz section is estimated to cost about $4.7 billion. Chinese banks will provide half of the amount as a 35-year loan to the joint project company. The remaining half will be contributed by the project participants: China holds 51%, while Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan each hold 24.5%. Kazakhstan is currently the only Central Asian country with direct rail border crossings with China. In the first ten months of 2025, rail transit from China through Kazakhstan to Central Asia, Europe, and the EAEU reached 11.04 million tonnes.