China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway: first tunnel broken through, where construction stands
The first tunnel on the Kashgar–Jalal-Abad–Andijan line has been broken through. Work is under way on 27 tunnels, 43 bridges and 20 stations in Kyrgyzstan. It will be the shortest rail path from China to Uzbekistan.
The China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan railway is one of Central Asia’s most anticipated transport projects. On 5 September 2026 the project company announced that the first tunnel on the Kyrgyz section — the 209.6-metre Kosh-Dobo North No. 2 tunnel — had been broken through. Work on it began in June 2025.
Route and key numbers
The line starts in Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang, runs through Jalal-Abad in Kyrgyzstan and ends in Andijan in eastern Uzbekistan. It is more than 500 km long, including 304.84 km in Kyrgyzstan.
On the Kyrgyz section, construction has started on 27 tunnels, 43 bridges, 88 roadbed sections and 20 stations. The project is run by the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway Company, a joint venture of enterprises authorised by the three governments.
Political backing
Chinese President Xi Jinping called the railway “a major transportation artery” at the SCO summit in Bishkek and urged high-quality construction. On 17 October in Tashkent, Premier Li Qiang and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed to accelerate the build.
Why it matters
Today, rail cargo from China to Uzbekistan runs mainly through Kazakhstan, via Khorgos or Alashankou–Dostyk. The new line opens a second, shorter route that bypasses Kazakhstan. That reduces exposure to border congestion and lets cargo reach the Fergana Valley directly.
The logistics hub that Chinese companies proposed for Andijan region is also planned around the line’s Uzbek terminus.
What shippers should do now
The railway is still under construction, so nothing changes for today’s shipments. Companies importing from China keep using rail, road and multimodal routes through Kazakhstan.
Buraq Logistics consolidates cargo from China at its own warehouse in Khorgos and is tracking every stage of the project. When the new route opens, we will be among the first to offer it to our clients.
Sources: Xinhua / People’s Daily (6 Sep 2026), Xinhua (18 Oct 2026), CGTN (18 Oct 2026).