Full Breakdown
China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Breaks First Kyrgyz Tunnel
9/7/2026, 6:21:20 AM
Core Milestone: First Tunnel Completion in Kyrgyz Section
Construction crews have completed the first tunnel on the Kyrgyzstan segment of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway. The No. 2 North Koshtobe tunnel has been broken through, marking the inaugural tunnel breakthrough on Kyrgyz territory since civil works began in June 2025.
Background & Context
The CKU railway is a flagship component of China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Highlighted during President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Kyrgyzstan, officials said the line will run from Kashgar, cross Kyrgyz mountains, and terminate in Andijan, Uzbekistan, creating an overland corridor that bypasses Russia and Kazakhstan.
Project Scope and Statistics
- Length: Over 500 km total, about 305 km in Kyrgyzstan.
- Tunnels: Work on 27 tunnels; the first (?210 m) is now complete.
- Bridges and Roadbeds: 43 bridges and 88 roadbed sections under construction.
- Stations: Infrastructure for 20 stations underway.
- Local Employment: More than 2,000 Kyrgyz workers employed; over 1,800 have received training.
- Local Procurement: Over 10 billion som (? $114 million) in materials sourced locally; >60 % of key construction materials purchased in Kyrgyzstan, all fuel locally procured.
- Environmental Measures: Alignment avoids Saimaluu-Tash National Park, includes wildlife culverts, land restoration, and livestock passages.
Official Statements & Responses
- CCTV reported the tunnel breakthrough as the first drilled tunnel in the Kyrgyz section and said overall progress on the segment had reached 17 %.
- China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway Co. said the tunnel was completed on schedule with safety and quality standards maintained and highlighted integrated environmental protection.
- Sodiq Safoyev, first deputy chairman of Uzbekistan’s Senate, called the railway “a corridor of development” that could carry up to 15 million tons of cargo annually and cut China-Europe transit time by roughly one week.
Why It Matters
The CKU railway gives China a direct trade corridor to the Middle East and Europe that circumvents Russian and Kazakh routes, potentially shortening transit by up to eight days compared with existing China-Europe Railway Express services. For Uzbekistan, the line could reduce logistics costs that currently account for up to 20 % of export or import expenses and help the country become a regional hub for value-added manufacturing.
Timeline
- June 2025: Civil construction on the Kyrgyz segment began.
- Recent months: First tunnel broken through, marking the project’s initial tunnel milestone.
- Current status: Construction continues on 27 tunnels, 43 bridges, 88 roadbed sections, and 20 stations; overall progress on the Kyrgyz segment reported at 17 % by CCTV.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
- Tunnel length: Sources list the tunnel as 209.6 m or 210 m.
- Progress metrics: Only CCTV provides a specific overall progress percentage; other outlets focus on the number of structures without comparable percentages.
The railway remains under active development, with further milestones expected as tunneling, bridge work, and station construction advance.
