Second 'Slavic Caravan' Freight Train Arrives in Uzbekistan from Belarus in Seven Days

The Belarusian Railway has dispatched the second cross-border freight train as part of the 'Slavic Caravan' project. This convoy is heading to Uzbekistan and is transporting over 4 thousand tons of export goods. Additionally, some of the cargo will subsequently proceed to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

The train began its journey on August 3rd from the Orsha-Vostochnaya station. The route, which passes through several countries, includes Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. The cargo consists of wood processing industry products, high value-added food products, as well as other export goods collected from various regions of Belarus.

Some of the containers in the convoy are intended for transit delivery through Uzbekistan to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan.

Previously, on July 30th, the first train under the same 'Slavic Caravan' project was sent from Orsha. It is carrying timber, foodstuffs, and chemical products. This first convoy has already covered approximately 2.5 thousand kilometers of the planned four thousand and is currently in Kazakhstan.

Further expansion of the geographical scope of supplies via Uzbekistan is planned, with the aim of using this route to access the markets of Central and South Asian countries.

Belarus and Uzbekistan have begun work on a new railway route intended for freight transport. The first through train, named 'Slavic Caravan,' started its journey from the Orsha-Vostochnaya station. This train will travel through the territories of Russia and Kazakhstan without needing to break up the consist, which will ensure a significant reduction in delivery time.

Consist and Schedule

The first trip included wagons loaded with wood processing products, sugar, potato starch, and compound feeds. Initially, it is planned to send such a train twice a month. In the future, containers with multimodal cargo, previously transported by road, will be included in the consist.

Advantages of the New Route

Head of Belarusian Railways Valery Verenich emphasized that this service will reduce delivery times by almost half. If previously individual wagons could take up to two months in transit, now the cargo will reach Uzbekistan in only 5–7 days. The train will move according to a set schedule similar to passenger train timetables.

The new route also allows small enterprises to send goods in batches, starting with a single 20-ton container, bypassing the need to wait for a full wagon load. Furthermore, there is a function for forming consolidated containers from several different shippers.

Development of Cooperation and Prospects

The 'Slavic Caravan' project aims to increase the export of Belarusian products to the Uzbek market. In the return direction, the transportation of Uzbek goods, including vegetables, fruits, and light industry products, is planned. Chairman of the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee Alexander Rogozhnik noted that using the new train to transport a 20-ton container costs at least one and a half times less than road transport.

Alexander Rogozhnik also announced his visit to Uzbekistan in mid-August, where the signing of a cooperation roadmap with the Andijan region is expected. It should be recalled that during July meetings in Minsk, Shavkat Mirziyoyev and Alexander Lukashenko set the goal of increasing mutual trade turnover to $2 billion.