BAKU, Azerbaijan, August 29. Turkmenistan is
taking measures to strengthen the material and technical base of
its railway transport system and increase its capacity.
This was reflected in the statement of the Turkmen government,
published following a regular Cabinet of Ministers meeting chaired
by President Serdar Berdimuhamedov via digital system.
Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers B. Annaev reported
on ongoing work in the railway sector, with particular attention
being paid to cooperation with leading foreign companies.
"The measures being implemented are expected to significantly
increase the capacity of Turkmenistan’s railway system and improve
the safety of passenger and freight transportation," he said.
Annaev submitted a relevant proposal to the president for
consideration. Berdimuhamedov stressed the importance of measures
aimed at developing domestic railway transport and strengthening
its material and technical base. The president approved the
proposal aimed at increasing the sector’s capacity and instructed
the deputy prime minister to carry out the necessary work in this
direction.
Turkmenistan’s railway network spans approximately
5,000–5,100 km of 1,520 mm gauge track and is operated by the state
company Türkmendemirýollary. The system plays a key role in both
domestic transport and international corridors linking Central Asia
with Iran, Afghanistan, Kazakhstan and the Caspian region. Major
modernization efforts are underway, including plans to upgrade the
Ashgabat–Turkmenbashi line to allow passenger trains to reach
speeds of up to 160 km/h and freight trains up to 90 km/h. The
country maintains long-standing cooperation with Chinese
manufacturers, which have supplied a significant portion of its
locomotive and rolling-stock fleet, and is advancing projects with
support from international partners to expand capacity and improve
operational efficiency.
