started · updated
China completes first tunnel on China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway
China has achieved a major construction milestone on the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway with the completion of a 210-meter (690-foot) tunnel in the Kyrgyz section. Following the start of full-scale construction in June 2025, work on this section has reached 17 percent completion.
As a key component of the Belt and Road Initiative, the railway will span over 500 kilometers, connecting Kashgar in China’s Xinjiang region to Andijan in Uzbekistan. The route is designed to provide a shorter overland connection between China, the Middle East, and Europe, potentially reducing transit times by up to eight days compared to the China-Europe Railway Express.
Construction efforts currently include 27 tunnels, 43 bridges, and 88 roadbed sections, with work already underway at 20 planned railway stations. The project aims to provide landlocked Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan with direct rail access to Asia-Pacific markets.
Entities
Andijan · Belt and Road Initiative · China · China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan Railway · Kashgar · Kyrgyzstan · Uzbekistan · Xi Jinping
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Construction on the Kyrgyz section of the railway has reached 17 percent. interestingengineering.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The railway could reduce transit times by up to eight days compared to the China-Europe Railway Express. interestingengineering.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway will span more than 500 kilometers (310 miles). interestingengineering.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Work has started on 20 planned railway stations. interestingengineering.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A 210-meter (690-foot) tunnel has been completed in the Kyrgyz section of the railway. interestingengineering.com