The Silk Road cities that took caravans weeks to cross are now a morning’s ride apart. Uzbekistan’s Afrosiyob high-speed trains run from Tashkent to Samarkand in a little over two hours, and since May 2026 a new fast service reaches Khiva, the walled oasis at the far edge of the Kyzylkum desert, in about seven and a half.
Elsewhere the railways are what the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union built to tie the steppe to Moscow, and the joy is in the long, slow runs. In Kazakhstan you can sleep your way from Almaty to Astana across 1,000 km of grassland, or take the daily train to Tashkent. In Kyrgyzstan a summer-only train winds through the Boom Gorge to Balykchy on the shore of Issyk-Kul, and in Turkmenistan the old Trans-Caspian line crosses the Karakum desert past Merv.
Fares are low by world standards, carriages are clean, and the shared tea and food in a sleeper compartment are half the experience.
At a Glance#
- Fastest: the Afrosiyob from Tashkent to Samarkand and Bukhara, at up to 250 km/h.
- New for 2026: high-speed trains from Tashkent to Khiva via Urgench in about seven and a half hours, three times a week.
- Classic sleeper: the Talgo from Almaty to Astana, about 13 to 16 hours across the steppe.
- Cross-border: a daily train between Almaty and Tashkent, and services linking Shymkent and Turkistan with both.
- Scenic summer line: Bishkek to Balykchy on Issyk-Kul, about four hours.
- Underground palaces: the ornate stations of the Tashkent Metro, the oldest metro in Central Asia.
Uzbekistan#
Uzbekistan has the region’s best trains. The Afrosiyob, a Spanish Talgo 250, runs several times a day from Tashkent to Samarkand in about two and a quarter hours and on to Bukhara in about four, with some services branching south to Karshi. After a 15% rise in February 2026, an economy seat from Tashkent to Bukhara cost about 509,000 sum (about 40 USD); slower Sharq and Nasaf trains on the same line cost much less.
The big change of 2026 is the high-speed service to Khiva, which opened in May and cuts the journey from Tashkent to about seven and a half hours via Bukhara and Urgench, running three days a week in each direction. Overnight sleepers still run to Urgench, Khiva and Nukus across the Kyzylkum, the cheapest way to reach Karakalpakstan and the Aral Sea region. Our Historic Sites in Uzbekistan guide covers what to see at each stop.
The Tashkent Metro, opened in 1977, is a sight in its own right: stations such as Kosmonavtlar, with its cosmic blue ceramic portraits of cosmonauts, Alisher Navoi and Mustaqillik Maydoni are decorated with marble, mosaics and chandeliers, and photography is now allowed.
Kazakhstan#
Kazakhstan is huge, and the train is how most Kazakhs cross it. The Talgo trains between Almaty and Astana run daily in about 13 to 16 hours, mostly overnight, with sleeper berths and a restaurant car; older Soviet-style trains on the same route take longer and cost less. In December 2025 Kazakhstan Railways made the Almaty to Tashkent Talgo daily, a journey of about 17 hours via Shymkent, and trains from Almaty also stop at Turkistan for the Yasawi mausoleum.
The Turksib, the Turkestan-Siberian railway completed in 1930, runs north from Almaty past Semey towards Siberia through some of the emptiest country in Asia. Another long line heads west via Kyzylorda along the Syr Darya towards the shrinking Aral Sea. Buy tickets on the Kazakhstan Railways site or app; e-tickets are accepted with your passport.
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan#
Kyrgyzstan has little passenger rail, but its one scenic line is a highlight. The summer train from Bishkek-2 station leaves Bishkek at about 8am, climbs through the Boom Gorge beside the Chuy River and reaches Balykchy on Issyk-Kul in about four hours. In 2026 it ran daily from late June to mid-September, with weekend runs in early June; the timetable is announced each spring. A rail extension towards Cholpon-Ata is under construction; for now, minibuses and taxis cover the last stretch along the north shore.
In Turkmenistan, the Trans-Caspian railway, built by the Russian army in the 1880s, runs from the Caspian coast through Ashgabat, Mary and Türkmenabat across the Karakum desert. Most visitors travel with a guide on a tour visa, and agencies can book the overnight train from Ashgabat to Mary for Merv. Tajikistan’s few passenger trains mostly serve long-distance routes towards Russia and are rarely useful for travellers.
Main routes compared#
| Route | Train | Time | Runs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tashkent to Samarkand | Afrosiyob | about 2 hours 15 minutes | several daily |
| Tashkent to Bukhara | Afrosiyob | about 4 hours | daily |
| Tashkent to Khiva | high-speed | about 7.5 hours | three times a week |
| Almaty to Astana | Talgo | about 13 to 16 hours | daily |
| Almaty to Tashkent | Talgo | about 17 hours | daily |
| Bishkek to Balykchy | summer train | about 4 hours | late June to mid-September |
When to go#
April to May and September to October are the best months for rail trips through Uzbekistan, with warm days in the Silk Road cities, and also the busiest, so book the Afrosiyob as early as you can. In July and August the desert lines are hot, often above 40°C (104°F) around Bukhara and Khiva, but carriages on the newer trains are air-conditioned. Winter is quiet and cheap; the Kazakh steppe falls far below freezing, which makes a warm sleeper compartment the most comfortable way to cross it. The Issyk-Kul train runs only in summer.
Booking and practicalities#
- Book early: Afrosiyob seats sell out in spring and autumn. Book on the Uzbekistan Railways site or app as soon as sales open, and carry your passport, which is checked at boarding.
- Classes: on Kazakh and Uzbek sleepers, a four-berth compartment (kupe) is the comfortable choice; open-plan platskart is cheaper and more sociable.
- Security: stations have airport-style bag scans, so arrive 30 to 45 minutes early.
- Borders: on cross-border trains you clear passport control on board or at the border station, which can add an hour or two.
- Food: sleepers have hot water for tea and noodles; bring bread, fruit and snacks to share.
Ride the Afrosiyob one way and the slower train the other. The high-speed seat saves hours between Tashkent and Bukhara, while an overnight sleeper to Khiva or Nukus saves a night’s hotel and shows you the Kyzylkum at dawn.
Rail hubs in Central Asia#
_(3).jpg){kind=link}
.jpg){kind=link}
More Things to Do#
Central Asia train journeys FAQs#
How long is the train from Tashkent to Samarkand?
About two and a quarter hours on the Afrosiyob high-speed train, and three to four hours on the slower Sharq. Several trains run daily.
Is there a train from Tashkent to Khiva?
Yes. A high-speed service opened in May 2026 and takes about seven and a half hours, three days a week in each direction. Overnight sleepers to Khiva and Urgench also run and take much longer.
Can you take a train from Almaty to Tashkent?
Yes. Since December 2025 a Talgo train runs daily between Almaty and Tashkent, taking about 17 hours via Shymkent, with border checks on the way.
How do I book Uzbekistan train tickets?
Online through Uzbekistan Railways, or at station ticket offices with your passport. Book a week or more ahead for the Afrosiyob in spring and autumn, when seats sell out.
Does the Bishkek to Issyk-Kul train run all year?
No. The Bishkek to Balykchy train is a summer service, running daily from late June to mid-September in 2026. Check Kyrgyz Railways each spring for the new timetable.