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Uzbekistan’s Ministry of Transport has drafted a presidential decree that would eliminate cash payments on suburban passenger trains and intercity buses entirely by 1 January 2030, according to a document published for public consultation. The proposal forms part of a broader strategy for developing domestic passenger transport through 2030.
The stakes are considerable: roughly 70 percent of passengers on those routes currently pay their fares in cash. The draft sets a target of reducing that share to zero, shifting all transactions to electronic payment. Tashkent city buses already moved to cashless-only operations on 1 January 2025, with passengers directed to bank cards, the ATTO transport card, mobile applications or QR-code single-journey tickets purchased at infokiosks — making the new proposal an extension of an existing urban policy to intercity and suburban services.
A Discount to Drive the Transition
To ease the shift, the draft offers a financial incentive: passengers who buy electronic tickets for suburban trains, suburban buses and intercity buses would receive a discount of at least 20 percent from 1 January 2027 through 31 December 2029. The measure is described in the action plan as requiring no additional funding, though the document also calls for a compensation mechanism to cover carriers’ lost revenue — without specifying which budget line would provide that money.
The Ministry of Transport is tasked with developing the tariff rules, payment procedures and carrier-compensation mechanisms jointly with the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the state railway company Uzbekiston Temir Yollari. That work must be completed before the discount scheme takes effect.
A Bonus for Long-Distance Rail Travellers
The draft includes a separate benefit aimed at boosting suburban rail ridership. Passengers who buy an electronic ticket for a long-distance train would be entitled to free travel on suburban electric trains in the relevant region for 12 hours before departure and 12 hours after arrival. The Transport Ministry and Uzbekiston Temir Yollari are required to design and implement the procedure for granting that benefit by 1 September 2027.
The stated goals of the initiative are to encourage electronic ticketing, establish transparent accounting in passenger transport and reduce the share of the shadow economy in the sector. The unresolved question of how carriers will be made whole for discounted fares means the compensation framework — still to be drafted — will be critical to whether operators accept the transition without resistance.