Transit Potential of Uzbekistan: Rail Versus Road

Abstract

This paper studies the factors critical to creating and maintaining sustainable competitive advantages for road and rail transport modes which in turn are important to try and develop Uzbekistan’s transit transport with international markets. Research has shown that the performance of rail and road transit in Uzbekistan depends not only on the cost of transportation, type of goods transported, trip duration but also on physical barriers such as poor road and rail infrastructure and also upon non physical barriers such as time spent clearing border crossing points. Internal process variables such as bureaucracy, network connections, and policy variables including relationships with neighboring regional countries as well as relationships with international trading partners have direct links with the research objectives. Research method includes using case studies, analysis and creating different scenarios which identify the current utilization of existing resources and assets. The goal of the study is to provide information that may be used to improve transit for Uzbekistan by studying the existing situation, list the opportunities and describe policy recommendations. The study identifies substantial and incremental changes which will if implemented improve border crossing point procedures and reduce crossing times. By reducing border crossing point times the transit times for trucks from one border crossing point to the next will get reduced. By improving transit times and also improving road and rail infrastructure extra trucks and wagons might be attracted to transit Uzbekistan. Revenues from transit should increase as a result.