Belarusian Railway has dispatched the second through freight train under the Slavic Caravan project. The train is carrying export goods destined for Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, according to the railway’s press service.
The train departed from Orsha-Vostochnaya station on August 3 and is travelling through Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.
The total weight of the cargo exceeds 4,000 tons. The train is carrying products from Belarusian woodworking companies, as well as high-value-added food products manufactured in different regions of the country.
Some of the goods will be delivered to Uzbekistan, while the rest will transit through the country to Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
Belarusian Railway did not specify which products or what volumes are intended for Tajikistan.
First train arrives in Tashkent
The first Slavic Caravan train departed from Orsha on July 30, carrying about 3,800 tonnes of woodworking, food and chemical products.
It arrived at Chukursay station in Tashkent on August 5, where an official welcoming ceremony was held.
According to O’zbekiston Temir Yo’llari (Uzbek Railways) company, the train consisted of 51 cars and covered 3,822 kilometers from Orsha-Vostochnaya station to the Uzbek capital.
The second train therefore departed before the first one had reached its destination. Belarusian Railway said this demonstrated strong demand for the new route among exporters.
What makes the new route different
The Slavic Caravan travels as a single train through Russia and Kazakhstan, without being broken up at intermediate stations or making unnecessary stops. Belarusian Railway estimates that this arrangement can almost halve cargo delivery times.
During the initial stage, the service is expected to operate twice a month. Wagons carrying goods from different regions of Belarus are assembled at Orsha-Vostochnaya station and formed into a single train.
The organizers plan to expand the range of goods transported and introduce container shipments. Companies will be able to send individual containers weighing about 20 tons instead of accumulating enough goods to fill an entire wagon with a capacity of approximately 60 tons. This is expected to make the route more accessible to smaller businesses.
The service is designed to transport products from the food, chemical, construction, woodworking and mechanical engineering industries. Belarusian officials have also said that the route could eventually be extended through Uzbekistan to other countries in Central and South Asia.
The launch is part of broader efforts to strengthen trade and transport links between Belarus and Uzbekistan. The two countries discussed further cooperation during Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev’s official visit to Belarus on July 8–9.
Belarus and Uzbekistan also plan to open an intermodal logistics center at Orsha station by the end of 2026. The facility is expected to handle export and import cargo at preferential rates.
The center is intended to simplify train formation and the transportation of goods between Belarus and Central Asian countries.
