Uzbekistan: talks with Tianjin Rail Transit on expanding cooperation in urban transport infrastructure development

Transport Minister Ilkhom Makhkamov met with Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chinese company Tianjin Rail Transit Group Wu Bingjun. The talks focused on expanding cooperation in the development of urban transport infrastructure, including the modernization of existing stations and the construction of new facilities. For Uzbekistan, this direction is strategic: the rapid growth of the urban population increases the requirements for the capacity of highways and the quality of public transport, and the capital intensity of projects dictates the need for technological partnerships and verified financial models.

The parties discussed possible formats of the company's participation in urban rail transport projects-from technical audits and modernization of existing hubs to the introduction of new lines, taking into account integration into the existing network. Special attention is paid to standardization, digitalization of traffic management systems and security, which is critical for increasing the regularity and speed of traffic during peak hours. The practice of large Asian agglomerations shows that updating the station infrastructure in conjunction with intelligent signaling and dispatching systems gives a multiple effect on carrying capacity without immediately increasing the fleet of rolling stock.

Discussion of the prospects for the construction of new stations is logically linked to the requirements for intermodal connectivity: design of transfer hubs, accessibility for low-mobility passengers, synchronization of schedules and seamless transfer with ground transport. This approach allows you to convert infrastructure investments into measurable economic effects — reducing travel time, increasing labor productivity, and increasing business activity in the zones of influence of stations.

From a coordination point of view, the project lifecycle and risk management remain key factors. For rail systems, asset life spans decades, so the choice of architecture, materials, and maintenance technologies affects total cost of ownership more than the initial capital expenditure. The participation of a specialized industrial partner can strengthen the transfer of competencies in terms of vital maintenance, training and localization of components, which reduces operational risks and strengthens the sustainability of projects.

On the economic side, the priority is a balance between the speed of implementation and transparency of financing. For large urban facilities, hybrid schemes are usually used, involving commercial and preferential resources, phased commissioning of capacities, and linking payments to achieving operational metrics. The meeting confirmed the interest in further development of such mechanisms at the level of specific routes, junctions and calendar plans.

The development of urban rail transport is one of the areas that can provide a multiplier effect for the economy: increased employment in construction and mechanical engineering, development around transport hubs, reduced logistics costs for businesses, and environmental benefits from the redistribution of passenger traffic in favor of public transport. The results of the negotiations indicate a transition to the substantive phase — technical and economic detailing of decisions on station modernization and possible construction of new sections with a priority of safety, operational efficiency and long-term payback.