Travel guide
Afrosiyob sold out? Your options
The high-speed Afrosiyob is the most popular train in Uzbekistan, and in spring and autumn it sells out weeks ahead. You still have good ways to keep your plan.
Short answer: first check other departure times and the business or VIP class on your date, then the slower trains on the same line. If none work, a private car goes door to door the same day: Tashkent–Samarkand is $100 per sedan, 4–4.5 hours.
1. Check every departure and class
Several Afrosiyob trains run on the main line each day, and economy usually sells out first. From 1 February 2026 the Tashkent–Samarkand fares are UZS 311,000 economy, 455,000 business and 709,000 VIP; Tashkent–Bukhara is UZS 509,000, 760,000 and 1,138,000 (Kun.uz). If you are three or four people, compare business-class tickets with a private car before you pay.
2. Take a slower train
Trains such as the Sharq run the same line more slowly. They are a good fallback and usually easier to book. Check the current timetable for your date on the Uzbekistan Railways site.
3. Shift a day
If your itinerary is flexible, swapping the order of two cities or adding a night can open up tickets. Our trip planner helps you re-order the route.
4. Shared taxi
Cheap per seat, but you wait for the car to fill and luggage space is tight. See shared taxi vs private transfer.
5. Private car, door to door
A private car leaves when you want, from your hotel or the airport, and stops on the way. It is priced per vehicle, so for a group it often costs about the same as train tickets plus taxis at both ends:
| Route | Drive time | Sedan, per car | Each, for 3 people |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tashkent → Samarkand | 4–4.5 hours | $100 | $34 |
| Samarkand → Bukhara | 3.5–4 hours | $100 | $34 |
| Tashkent → Bukhara | 7–8 hours | $185 | $62 |
On the Samarkand–Bukhara leg the car also stops at Rabat-i-Malik and Gijduvan, which the train passes by.
Updated 4 October 2026. Sources: Kun.uz, train fares from 1 Feb 2026, Uzbekistan Railways (tickets).