Direct Dushanbe-Moscow Train Service to Resume June 21
Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
- Direct passenger rail service between Dushanbe, Tajikistan, and Moscow, Russia, will resume on June 21 after a six-year suspension.
- The route was initially halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is being restarted by Tajik Railways and Russian Railways.
- The journey will take approximately four days, passing through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, with trains operating once every two weeks.
Dushanbe, Tajikistan โ Direct passenger train service between Dushanbe and Moscow is set to resume on June 21, restoring a route that has been suspended for six years. Tajik Railways and Russian Railways announced the relaunch of the service, which was originally halted in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first passenger train, No. 423/424, on the DushanbeโMoscow route is scheduled to depart on Sunday, June 21. Tickets are already available for purchase. Trains from Dushanbe will depart on Sundays at 03:25 local time, arriving at Moscow's Paveletsky Railway Station on Wednesdays at 22:08 Moscow time. The return service from Moscow is scheduled to begin on June 25, departing on Thursdays at 06:05 Moscow time and arriving in Dushanbe on Mondays at 02:48 local time. The entire journey is expected to take approximately four days.
The State Unitary Enterprise (sue) Rohi Ohani Tojikiston (Tajik Railways), in cooperation with Russian Railways Holding, is restarting the service following its suspension in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The route will traverse Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia, with scheduled stops in several cities including Bukhara, Nukus, Kungrad, Kandyagash, Aktobe, Sol-Iletsk, Orenburg, Samara, Syzran, Kuznetsk, Penza, Ryazhsk, Skopin, and Ozherelye. These stops will allow passengers to board and disembark along the way.
The DushanbeโMoscow train will operate once every two weeks.
Ticket sales for departures from Dushanbe have commenced, with bookings open up to 45 days in advance. Sales from Moscow are expected to open at a later date. The DushanbeโMoscow train will operate bi-weekly. Ticket prices for the June 21 departure are set at 2,617.6 somoni (approximately 20,089 rubles) for a general compartment and 3,713.42 somoni (approximately 28,499 rubles) for a coupe.
Russian Railways stated that the restoration of this direct connection was initiated at the request of Tajik railway authorities and coordinated with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Currently, three other passenger trains operated by SUE Tajik Railways run between Tajikistan and Russia weekly: No. 319/320 KulobโVolzhsky, No. 329/330 DushanbeโVolzhsky, and No. 359/360 KhujandโVolzhsky. These existing services continue to serve as vital transport links, particularly for labor migrants and travelers between the two nations.
Russian Railways said the restoration of the direct DushanbeโMoscow connection was made at the request of Tajik railway authorities and coordinated with Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
Originally published by Asia-Plus in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.