Uzbekistan Considers Extending High-Speed Rail to Khiva

Uzbekistan is studying the possibility of extending the Tashkent–Samarkand high-speed railway line to the city of Khiva in the western part of the country, according to UzDaily. If the project is implemented, travel time would be reduced to approximately five hours.

The high-speed rail line between Tashkent and Samarkand, which became operational in 2011, connects the country's two largest cultural centers. Extending the line to Khiva—an ancient city with significant tourism potential—could strengthen transport connectivity and develop the tourism sector in the region.

The project envisages modernization of the transport network and improved accessibility to historical monuments along the route. Khiva is one of the key destinations for cultural tourism in Central Asia due to its architectural monuments from the Khorezm era.

Details on project financing and implementation timelines have not yet been clarified.