Fergana to Tashkent: train through the tunnel or car over the pass
The trip back from the valley: comparing the electric train through the Kamchik tunnel with a shared ride over the pass by time, comfort, price and weather.
There are two fundamentally different ways to get from the Fergana Valley to Tashkent: by rail through the mountain, or by road over its top. The electric train runs under the pass through the Kamchik tunnel, while cars climb the hairpins up to the Kamchik pass itself. Both work, but they suit different people and situations. Here is an honest comparison.
The numbers
- Fergana to Tashkent by road: about 310–320 km.
- By car: 4.5–5.5 hours, longer in winter.
- By train: about 5–6 hours depending on the service and departure station.
- The Kamchik railway tunnel: about 19 km, one of the longest in Central Asia.
The train through the tunnel
The Angren to Pap railway with its tunnel under the pass connected the valley directly to the rest of Uzbekistan's rail network, without transiting neighbouring countries. Since then, trains from the valley to Tashkent have become routine.
Pros of the train
- Unaffected by weather on the pass. Snow, fog and ice on the Kamchik do not affect the train, so in winter it is the most reliable option.
- No hairpins. If mountain roads make you carsick, the train solves the problem.
- Predictable arrival. Handy if you have a meeting or flight in Tashkent that evening.
- You can rest. Read, work or sleep.
Cons of the train
- You need to get to the station. Trains serving Fergana stop in Fergana itself or in neighbouring Margilan; check the timetable to see where your train leaves from and allow time for a taxi.
- Limited departures. There are few conveniently timed trains, and tickets go quickly on Fridays, Sundays and before holidays.
- In Tashkent you arrive at the station, not at your address.
Timetables change, so check the railway's website or app in advance.
The car over the pass
Pros of the car
- Door to door. The driver picks you up at home in Fergana and drops you in the part of Tashkent you need.
- Flexible timing. Cars leave from early morning to evening, with no timetable to follow.
- Luggage. Bags of fruit, bread and homemade preserves, everything people traditionally bring back from the valley, are easier to fit in a car.
- A beautiful road. On a clear day the views from the pass are worth seeing in daylight at least once.
Cons of the car
- Weather. In winter the pass may be closed or restricted, and the trip gets postponed.
- Checkpoints. There are queues at weekends.
- Hairpins. Not everyone is comfortable on mountain roads.
Sharing a ride out of the valley
A great many people travel from Fergana to Tashkent: for work, study, business or after a weekend with relatives. So finding a seat in a car is usually easy, especially in the morning. On Yo'ldosh, drivers publish trips on the Fergana — Tashkent route, showing the departure time, price per seat and driver's profile, and you can book right in the app. The chat is handy for agreeing the pick-up point and where in Tashkent you will be dropped off.
A seat in a car usually costs about the same as a train ticket and noticeably less than a private taxi.
How to choose
| Situation | What to choose |
|---|---|
| Winter, snow on the pass | train |
| You get carsick in the mountains | train |
| Lots of luggage, need door-to-door | car |
| Trains are sold out | seat in a car |
| You need to leave at a specific time | car |
| Arriving on time for a flight is critical | train, if tickets are available |
When to leave
By car, it is best to leave early in the morning, between 5 and 7 am. You cross the pass ahead of the main traffic and reach Tashkent by lunchtime. That is exactly why so many valley drivers set off before dawn. Leaving after lunch means descending from the pass at dusk and hitting evening traffic on the way into Tashkent.
By train, choose a service that gets you into Tashkent in daylight if you still have to cross the city with luggage.
Sundays
Sunday evening is the busiest time on this route: both trains and cars are full of people returning to Tashkent after the weekend. If you can, travel on Saturday or early on Monday morning. If not, book your seat in advance, at least a day or two ahead.
A tip for travellers: one way there, the other way back
If you are visiting the valley as a tourist, try both. For example, arrive in Fergana by train through the tunnel and return to Tashkent by car over the pass, stopping in Kokand at the palace of Khudoyar Khan and at a viewpoint on the Kamchik. That way you see both the railway's feat of engineering and mountain scenery you cannot see from the train. If your trip falls in winter, do the opposite: go by car on a clear day and come back by train, so you do not depend on the weather on the pass on the day you leave.
What to take
- A passport or ID card, as every passenger is checked at the checkpoints.
- Water and snacks, especially by car: there are few places to stop on the pass.
- A warm layer even in summer: it is cooler at the top than in the valley.
Find a seat on the Fergana — Tashkent route on Yo'ldosh, and other routes out of the valley on the routes page. For more on how booking works, see the for passengers section.
Cover photo: Ttaff, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons.
