The key facts
- Starting October 27, 10 new Yutong trolleybuses with an autonomous range of up to 100 km will begin operating on the Urgench — Khiva route.
- On October 25, a new administrative building of the trolleybus park and a renovated depot were opened in Urgench; another depot is being built in Khiva.
- The service interval on the route is planned to be reduced from 25 to 12 minutes; the route will connect Urgench Airport and the railway stations of Urgench and Khiva.
Launch of new trolleybuses on the Urgench — Khiva route
Starting October 27, new Chinese-made Yutong trolleybuses are to enter service on the intercity Urgench — Khiva route, capable of traveling up to 100 km autonomously thanks to a battery system. This was reported by the Transport Department of Khorezm Region, while the press service of the Ministry of Transport announced the launch at the opening of a new depot building. The vehicles were presented to President Shavkat Mirziyoyev during his visit to Khorezm in mid-August.
Opening of the new building and driver training
On October 25, a new administrative building of the state enterprise 'Khorezm Trolleybus Park' and a renovated depot were opened in Urgench, reported the Transport Department of Khorezm Region; a depot is also being built in Khiva. According to the regional department, prospective drivers underwent special training and received certificates. The Ministry of Transport clarified that the drivers were trained to operate the new equipment and took exams, and their driving licenses are currently being processed.
Route, intervals and vehicle specifications
According to the Ministry of Transport's press service, the trolleybuses will operate on the restored route from Urgench Airport to Khiva railway station under a gross-contract system. Spot.uz, citing the ministry, reports that the new route will connect Urgench International Airport, the Urgench railway station and the Khiva station, and that the service interval on the Urgench — Khiva — Urgench route is planned to be reduced from 25 to 12 minutes. Each trolleybus has a capacity of 87 passengers and is equipped with a fire suppression system, lane control and driver condition monitoring devices, USB and Type-C ports, as well as video surveillance cameras.
Context: the country's only trolleybus system
Khorezm Region is the only region of Uzbekistan where a trolleybus system has survived, and one of two intercity trolleybus systems in the world: the line is 35.6 km long one way (the other operates between Simferopol and Yalta — 84 km). The line opened in 1998: at first trolleybuses ran from Urgench Airport to Khiva, but the route was later shortened to Urgench's central market. Currently Skoda vehicles purchased in 2013 are in use; there are nine in total, with eight in regular service. According to Gazeta, the 10 new trolleybuses will allow the line to be extended back to the airport.
Significance for the region
The launch matters primarily for residents of Urgench and Khiva and for passengers arriving via the airport and railway stations: restoring the route to Urgench Airport and reducing the interval from 25 to 12 minutes (according to the Ministry of Transport) mean more frequent and direct connections between the cities and transport hubs. For the trolleybus park itself, fleet renewal from eight operational 2013 Skoda vehicles to ten new Yutong buses with autonomous range expands the technical capabilities of the country's only remaining trolleybus system. In practice, this is the first stage of development of the line since 1998, rather than a mere replacement of rolling stock, although exact fares and the final timetable were not provided in the publications.
