Fuel freight train derails in Tajikistan after landslide PHOTO

A freight train carrying fuel derailed in the Yavan district of Tajikistan’s Khatlon region.

According to the Tajik Railways, the incident occurred on December 14 after a landslide damaged the railway tracks, Caliber.Az reports per Tajik media.

As a result of the derailment, the wagons overturned, causing a fire. Tajik Railways confirmed that there were no casualties.

Company officials and a special task force were dispatched to investigate the circumstances of the accident.

Tajikistan’s rail network is very limited and single‑track, with under 700 km of broad‑gauge lines, reflecting a small, non‑electrified system that connects domestic cities and links primarily to Uzbekistan for international routes.

The state‑owned operator, Tajik Railways, was established after the Soviet era and manages both freight and passenger services over this modest infrastructure, which remains constrained by geography and ageing assets.

In October 2013, a significant derailment occurred on a Tajik troop train in Uzbekistan due in part to infrastructure and coordination issues on the cross‑border segment, highlighting challenges in safety and regional rail cooperation.

International assessments show Tajikistan’s railroad infrastructure quality scores around the global average but are limited by network size and condition, indicating ongoing infrastructure development needs.

By Jeyhun Aghazada