Recently, Jiandao.com learned from the Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan that Kazakhstan is conducting a feasibility study on the construction of the Turkestan-Shymkent-Tashkent high-speed rail project. Two options have been planned, including modernizing existing railways or building new lines.

It is worth mentioning that the renovation plan is expected to cost 422 billion tenge (approximately US$1 billion), with a total length of 401 kilometers, a one-way travel time of 4 hours and 50 minutes, and a top speed of 160 kilometers per hour; the new route plan is expected to cost 3075 100 million tenge (about 730 million US dollars), the line is 260 kilometers long, the one-way travel time is 2 hours and 9 minutes, and the top speed is 250 kilometers per hour.

The Ministry of Industry and Infrastructure Development of Kazakhstan believes that the new route plan is more reasonable. Currently, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are negotiating on the preparation of the project feasibility study report and plan to set up a working group. The source of project funding has yet to be confirmed. Editor/Tian Zengpeng