The Ashgabat CIS Railway Forum Sets New Standards for Eurasian Logistics
The 84th meeting of the CIS Railway Transport Council brought together representative delegations in Ashgabat, including the heads of railways from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Azerbaijan, Tajikistan, Georgia, Iran, and the Baltic states. The forum's agenda focused on the future of logistics in Greater Eurasia.
The Council's work coincided with a significant historical milestone. Exactly 30 years ago, on May 13, 1996, the Tejen-Sarakhs-Mashhad line was opened. This event, which laid the foundation for modern logistics in the region, has transformed Turkmenistan into a key link in the North-South corridor over the past three decades. The continuity of this course is confirmed by the figures: the first quarter of 2026 was the best start to a year on record, with a record-breaking transportation of 142,425 railcars.
The central topic on the sidelines of the forum was the technical re-equipment of the industry. Turkmenistan's railway department has transitioned from simple procurement to a lifecycle strategy for equipment. In April 2026, the largest contract in 30 years was signed with CRRC Ziyang, worth over $30 million, for the modernization of its diesel locomotive fleet. By June 2026, the fleet will be replenished with new CKD9A-1 series mainline freight diesel locomotives. Particular attention is being paid to the procurement of three-section locomotives—the most powerful in the country, capable of hauling super-heavy trains on difficult sections. In 2025–2026, the refurbishment cycle of 40 locomotives will be completed, returning the equipment to its design capacity necessary to service growing transit traffic.
Turkmenistan isn't simply building tracks; it's creating an integrated network. The Turkmenabat-Mary-Ashgabat-Turkmenbashi highway is preparing for a comprehensive reconstruction with the support of international financial institutions.
The Mary-Serhetabat section is being transformed into a powerful transshipment hub. A record 32.3 km of track was repaired there in 2025, and construction of a modern warehouse complex is beginning at the dry port of Turghundi station in Afghanistan.
The eastern branch of the North-South Corridor (Kazakhstan-Turkmenistan-Iran) has received new impetus. The signing of a trilateral agreement with Russia and Afghanistan at KazanForum 2026 is expected to increase transit through Turkmen territory by 20% by the end of the year.
The industry's success is confirmed by macroeconomic indicators: the country's transport and communications sector grew by 14.1%, outpacing GDP growth. Container transit is a key driver. In the first four months of 2026, container shipping volumes increased by 70.8% thanks to special tariffs for routes from China, Russia, and Belarus.
Today's Ashgabat forum confirms that Turkmenistan's railways are a high-tech bridge linking the markets of Europe, China, India, and the Persian Gulf into a single, stable system.
