Uzbekistan to revive Tashkent’s tram network after eight years
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (MNTV) — Trams are set to return to Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent after an eight-year hiatus, following the signing of a roadmap between Deputy Mayor Sharof Rakhmonov and French Minister-Delegate for Foreign Trade and Citizens Abroad Laurent Saint-Martin.
Tashkent’s tram system, the largest and oldest in Central Asia, was first launched on December 29, 1912. However, plans for its construction date back to 1896, when city officials reached an agreement with Belgian businessman Eduard Empen. For over a century, the network served as a vital mode of transport for residents, gradually expanding to accommodate the growing city.
The decline of the tram system began in the early 2000s, with several lines being phased out. By 2008, three tram routes had been shut down, leaving only 11 operational. The closures continued until 2016, when then-Mayor Rakhmonbek Usmanov declared the complete termination of tram services, citing rising car ownership, a lack of street network expansion, and the perceived inefficiency of trams.
According to Qalampir.uz, on May 2, 2016, the last tram of Route 17 made its final journey, bringing an end to Tashkent’s 115-year tram history. The city replaced trams with expanded bus services, but many residents lamented the decision, advocating for the system’s revival.
Discussions about reintroducing trams began six years after their removal, but momentum picked up following public demand. In February 2022, President Shavkat Mirziyoyev acknowledged these calls during a visit to Samarkand, stating: “We want to bring the tram back to Tashkent as well. We are receiving many letters and appeals from citizens on this matter.”
The push for a tram comeback gained further traction in March 2024 when Transport Minister Ilhom Mahkamov emphasized the system’s necessity. Addressing past decisions to dismantle the network, he suggested that while conditions at the time may have justified its removal, modern urban challenges now make its revival essential.
“The tram is an extremely necessary infrastructure for Tashkent. The cancellation of the previous system… maybe, at that time, there were not so many traffic jams, no public appeal, no perceived need. But even then, modernization would have been a better solution. We need this infrastructure,” Mahkamov said.
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