Trams in Samarkand

The tram system of Samarkand, Uzbekistan, consists of two lines operated by Uzbek Railways, with a total of 26 stops and a length of 11.4 kilometers.

The modern, electrified system opened its first line in 2017, and is the first system to operate in Samarkand since the Soviet-era system was disestablished in 1973. Another two lines are planned for the future, for a total of four lines.

History
The first trams in Samarkand began operation in 1924 and were powered by steam.

In 1947, the tram system transitioned from steam to electric power. A fleet of 30 vehicles served the system until 1973, when it was dismantled. The last of Samarkand's guided transport was disestablished in 2005, when the trolleybus system (operating from 1957) was removed.

In 2016, Uzbek presidential candidate Shavkat Mirziyoyev promised for a new tram line to be constructed in Samarkand, and construction began upon his election. Despite complaints from the local population over the effects of construction on traffic and the demolition of buildings to make way for the tram, the project finished on schedule. The first system line began operation in March of 2017, with Mirziyoyev as its first rider.

The system's original stock of Pragoimex VarioLF trams were taken from Tashkent; its tram project had been abandoned the year before. Later, Samarkand purchased 42 of these trams directly from Czech company Pragoimex.

A second tram line opened the following year, along with eight new trams.

Current lines and future plans
Samarkand is currently served by two tram lines. The system has an average headway of seven to nine minutes, and one journey from end to end takes about twenty minutes on each line.

Two more lines are in the planning phase; the four lines will total 34.8 km in length.