THE Japan International Cooperation Agency has signed a Yen 18bn ($US 223m) loan agreement with the Uzbek government to fund the electrification of the 325km line from Karshi to Baysun and Termez in the south of the country.
THE Japan International Cooperation Agency has signed a Yen 18bn ($US 223m) loan agreement with the Uzbek government to fund the electrification of the 325km line from Karshi to Baysun and Termez in the south of the country.
The project will be carried out by Uzbekistan Railways (UTY) and will be completed by July 2017.
The largely single-track line runs through a mountainous area, and the severe gradients and sharp curves mean track-doubling would require significant track realignment. Electrification is therefore seen as a more practical means of increasing capacity.