Editing Transport in Kyrgyzstan

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[[File:Osh182.jpg|thumb|A road in Osh]]
{{refimprove|date=May 2023}}
'''Transport in [[Kyrgyzstan]]''' is severely constrained by the country's alpine topography. Roads have to snake up steep valleys, cross passes of {{convert|3000|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} altitude and more, and are subject to frequent mud slides and snow avalanches. Winter travel is close to impossible in many of the more remote and high-altitude regions. Additional problems are because many roads and railway lines built during the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] period are today intersected by international boundaries, requiring time-consuming border formalities to cross where they are not completely closed. The [[horse]] is still a much used transport option, especially in rural and inaccessible areas, as it does not depend on imported [[fuel]].

== Railways ==
[[Image:E7939-Bishkek-rail-overpass.jpg|thumb|right|A diesel loco near the main train station in Bishkek]]
The [[Kyrgyz Railway]] is currently responsible for railway development and maintenance in the country. The [[Chüy Valley]] in the north and the [[Fergana Valley]] in the south were endpoints of the [[Soviet Union]]'s rail system in Central Asia. Following the emergence of independent post-Soviet states, the rail lines which were built without regard for administrative boundaries have been cut by borders, and traffic is therefore severely curtailed. The small bits of rail lines within Kyrgyzstan, about 370&nbsp;km of {{RailGauge|1520mm}} [[Russian gauge|broad gauge]] in total, have little economic value in the absence of the former bulk traffic over long distances to and from such centers as [[Tashkent]], [[Almaty]] and the cities of Russia.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}

In 2022, construction began on a new 186&nbsp;km extension of the existing railway from [[Balykchy]] to [[Karakeche]], primarily meant to carry coal from mines at Karakeche to [[Bishkek]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kyrgyz president launches construction of railway to Kara-Keche |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/kyrgyz-president-launches-construction-of-railway-to-kara-keche/61435.article |website=Railway Gazette International}}</ref> In June 2023, a railway between Balykchy and Bishkek was officially opened.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=16 June 2023 |title=Из Бишкека в Балыкчы начал курсировать пассажирский поезд |url=https://mtd.gov.kg/iz-bishkeka-v-balykchy-nachal-kursirovat-passazhirskij-poezd |website=Министерство транспорта и коммуникаций Кыргызской Республики |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Kudryavceva |first=Tatyana |date=13 June 2023 |title=Напоминаем: завтра начнет курсировать поезд Бишкек — Балыкчи |url=https://24.kg/obschestvo/296574_napominaem_zavtra_nachnet_kursirovat_poezd_bishkek_balyikchi |website=24.kg |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>

President [[Sadyr Japarov|Japarov]] announced the planned construction of a 523&nbsp;km {{ill|China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan Railway|ru|Железнодорожная магистраль Китай — Кыргызстан — Узбекистан}} (CKU) in 2022. This project had already been proposed and stalled a number of times since the 2000s, possibly due to [[Russia|Russian]] and [[Kazakhstan|Kazakh]] opposition at the time.<ref name="yang"/> The CKU Railway would comprise {{convert|213|km|0|abbr=on}} in [[China]], {{convert|260|km|0|abbr=on}} in Kyrgyzstan and {{convert|50|km|0|abbr=on}} in [[Uzbekistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Work to start next year on China - Kyrgyzstan - Uzbekistan Railway |url=http://www.railpage.com.au/news/s/work-to-start-next-year-on-china-kyrgyzstan-uzbekistan-railway |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Railpage}}</ref> The railway, conceived as part of China's [[Belt and Road Initiative]], is planned to lead from [[Kashgar]] through the [[Torugart Pass]] to [[Jalal-Abad]], and further on to the Uzbek city of [[Andijan]].<ref name="yang"/> An inaugural ceremony was held in Jalal-Abad in December 2024<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=30 December 2024 |title=Construction of China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway launched |url=https://www.gazeta.uz/en/2024/12/30/railway |website=Gazeta |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref> and construction is set to begin in July 2025.<ref name="yang">{{cite web |last=Yang |first=William |date=9 January 2025 |title=China aims to deepen Central Asia influence with new railway project |url=https://www.voanews.com/a/china-aims-to-deepen-central-asia-influence-with-new-railway-project/7930839.html |website=[[Voice of America]] |access-date=19 February 2025}}</ref>

=== Rail links with adjacent countries ===

* [[Transport in Kazakhstan|Kazakhstan]] - yes - [[Bishkek]] branch - same gauge
* [[Transport in Uzbekistan|Uzbekistan]] - yes - [[Osh]] branch - same gauge
* [[Transport in Tajikistan|Tajikistan]] - no - same gauge
* [[Transport in the People's Republic of China|China]] - no - [[Break of gauge]] {{RailGauge|1520mm}}/{{RailGauge|1435mm}}

== Highways ==
{{See also|Roads in Kyrgyzstan}}
[[Image:E8103-Bishkek-West-Bus-Terminal.jpg|thumb|Most of the intercity travelers having switched from the big state-run buses to minivans, the palatial halls of Bishkek's West Bus Terminal remain mostly deserted]]
With support from the [[Asian Development Bank]], a major road linking the north and southwest from [[Bishkek]] to [[Osh]] has recently{{when|date=March 2016}} been completed.  This considerably eases communication between the two major population centers of the country—the [[Chüy Valley]] in the north and the [[Fergana Valley]] in the South. An offshoot of this road branches off across a 3,500 meter [[mountain pass|pass]] into the [[Talas Valley]] in the northwest. Plans are now being formulated to build a major road from Osh into the [[People's Republic of China]].

The total length of the road network in [[Kyrgyzstan]] is approximately 34,000&nbsp;km.{{cn|date=May 2023}} Of them, 18,810&nbsp;km are public roads directly subordinated to the Ministry of Transport and Communications, and 15,190&nbsp;km - other roads (village, agricultural, industrial etc.).{{cn|date=May 2023}} By their status the roads of the Ministry of Transport and Communications are classified as:
* ''international roads:'' 4,163&nbsp;km
* ''state roads:'' 5,678&nbsp;km
* ''local roads:'' 8,969&nbsp;km

By nature of surface there can be distinguished:
* ''hard-surfaced roads:'' 7,228&nbsp;km (including 11&nbsp;km of cement concrete roads, 4,969&nbsp;km - bituminous concrete surface, 2,248&nbsp;km - road-mix pavement)
* ''gravel roads:'' 9,961&nbsp;km
* ''earth roads:'' 1,621&nbsp;km <ref>[http://www.mtk.gov.kg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=74 Ministry of Transport and Communications: General Information about Road Network (in Russian)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100213101611/http://www.mtk.gov.kg/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=68&Itemid=74 |date=2010-02-13 }}</ref>

Frequent bus and, more commonly, [[Marshrutka|minibus]] service connects country's major cities. Minibuses provide public transit in cities and between cities to neighboring villages.

The condition of the road network is generally bad, though repairs have been made recently. Usually, only the main roads of population centres are illuminated, and drain lids might be missing on both streets and sidewalks. The roads are often not plowed during winters. Fuel stations are rare outside Bishkek and Osh.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://um.fi/matkustustiedote/-/c/KG |title=Kirgisia: matkustustiedote|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=28 February 2020 |website=Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs |access-date=28 April 2020|language=fi}}</ref>

== Pipelines ==
The limitations of Kyrgyzstan's pipeline system are a major impediment to fuel distribution. In 2006 the country had 367 kilometers of natural gas pipeline and 16 kilometers of oil pipeline, after adding 167 kilometers of natural gas pipeline in 2003.<ref name=cp/>

== Ports and waterways ==
Kyrgyzstan's only port is [[Balykchy]], a fishing town on [[Issyk Kul Lake]].  None of Kyrgyzstan's rivers are navigable, and the country has no canals.<ref name=cp>[http://lcweb2.loc.gov/frd/cs/profiles/Kyrgyzstan.pdf Kyrgyzstan country profile]. [[Library of Congress]] [[Federal Research Division]] (January 2007). ''This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the [[public domain]].''</ref>

Water transport exists only on [[Issyk Kul Lake]], and has drastically shrunk since the end of the Soviet Union.{{Citation needed|date=February 2025}}

== Airports ==
{{See also|List of airports in Kyrgyzstan}}
[[Image:Antonov An-2 Tamchi.jpg|thumb|In the little airfield in [[Tamchy]] village on [[Issyk Kul Lake]]'s north shore]]
[[File:Kyrgyzstan Air Antonov AN-24 prepares for flight QH6 to Bishkek, Jalal-Abad Airport, Kyrgyzstan, March 7, 2010.JPG|thumb|[[Kyrgyzstan Air Company]] Antonov AN-24 in Jalal-Abad Airport prepares for flight to Bishkek, March 7, 2010.]]
At the end of the Soviet period there were about 50 airports and airstrips in Kyrgyzstan, many of them built primarily to serve military purposes in this border region so close to China.  Only a few of them remain in service today.

There are four airports with international flights, namely in [[Manas International Airport|Bishkek]], [[Osh Airport|Osh]], [[Tamchy Airport|Tamchy]] and [[Karakol International Airport|Karakol]].

* [[Manas International Airport]] near [[Bishkek]] is the main international terminal, with flights to [[Moscow]], [[Tashkent]], [[Dushanbe]], [[Istanbul]], [[Baku]] and [[Muscat]].
* [[Osh Airport]] is the main air terminal in the south, with daily connections to Bishkek and beyond.
* [[Jalal-Abad Airport]] is linked to Bishkek by daily flights operated by [[Kyrgyzstan Air Company]], [[Avia Traffic Company]], [[Air Bishkek]] and [[Sky Bishkek]] on [[BAe-146]] and [[Saab-340]] as well as weekly flights to [[Aksy District]] and [[Toguz-Toro District]].
* [[Tamchy Airport|Issyk-Kul International Airport]] is linked to Almaty in summers by flights operated by [[SCAT (airline)|SCAT]] on Yakovlev [[YAK-42]] Bishkek, Jalal-Abad and Osh.
* [[Karakol International Airport]] is linked to Almaty in winters by flights operated by [[SCAT (airline)|SCAT]] on Antonov [[AN-24]].
* [[Kazarman Airport]] is linked to Jalal-Abad, Osh and Bishkek by flights operated by [[Sky Bishkek]] on [[Saab-340]].
* [[Kerben Airport]] is linked to Jalal-Abad and Bishkek by flights operated by [[Sky Bishkek]] on [[Saab-340]].
* Other airports, aerodromes and landing strips are located in [[Toktogul Airport|Toktogul]], [[Kanysh-Kiya Airport|Kanysh-Kiya]], [[Ala-Buka]], Sakaldy in [[Nooken District]], [[Batken Airport|Batken]], [[Isfana Airport|Isfana]], [[Kyzyl-Kiya Airport|Kyzyl-Kiya]], [[Naryn Airport|Naryn]], [[Talas Airport|Talas]], [[Pokrovka, Kyrgyzstan|Pokrovka]], [[Cholpon-Ata Airport|Cholpon-Ata]], [[Tamga Airport|Tamga]], [[Tokmok Airport|Tokmok]], [[Aravan, Kyrgyzstan|Aravan]] and many other places.
* Other facilities built during the Soviet era are either closed down, used only occasionally or restricted to military use (e.g., [[Kant, Kyrgyzstan|Kant]] airbase, now a Russian air base near Bishkek).

===Airports with paved runways===
<br />''total:'' 21
<br />''over 3,047 m:'' 1 ([[Manas International Airport|Bishkek-Manas]])
<br />''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 3 ([[Osh Airport|Osh]], [[Kant Air Base|Kant]] and [[Tokmok Airport|Tokmok]])
<br />''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 11 ([[Jalal-Abad Airport|Jalal-Abad]], [[Karakol International Airport|Karakol International]], [[Kerben Airport|Kerben]], [[Kazarman Airport|Kazarman]], [[Isfana Airport|Isfana]], [[Batken Airport|Batken]], [[Naryn Airport|Naryn]], [[Talas Airport|Talas]], [[Tamchy Airport|Issyk-Kul International]], [[Kyzyl-Kiya Airport|Kyzyl-Kiya]] and [[Cholpon-Ata Airport|Cholpon-Ata]])
<br />''under 914 m:'' 6 ([[Tamga Airport|Tamga]], [[Toktogul Airport|Toktogul]], [[Kanysh-Kiya Airport|Kanysh-Kiya]], [[Pokrovka, Kyrgyzstan|Pokrovka]], [[Aravan, Kyrgyzstan|Aravan]] and [[Nooken District|Sakaldy]]) (2012)

===Airports with unpaved runways (mostly disused)===
<br />''total:'' 29
<br />''2,438 to 3,047 m:'' 3
<br />''1,524 to 2,437 m:'' 5
<br />''914 to 1,523 m:'' 6 ([[Gulcha]], [[Daroot-Korgon]], [[Ala-Buka]], [[At-Bashi|At-Bashy]], [[Suzak]] and [[Sumsar|Chatkal]])
<br />''under 914 m:'' 15 (2012)

== See also ==
* [[Eurasian Land Bridge]]
* [[Kyrgyz Railways]]
* [[List of airports in Kyrgyzstan]]
* [[List of airlines of Kyrgyzstan]]
* [[Roads in Kyrgyzstan]]
* [[Trans-Asian Railway]]
* [[Transport in the Soviet Union]]
* [[Turkestan–Siberia Railway]]

== References ==

<references/>

{{Asia topic|Transport in}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Transport in Kyrgyzstan}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Transport In Kyrgyzstan}}
[[Category:Transport in Kyrgyzstan| ]]

[[bn:কিরগিজিস্তানের পরিবহন ব্যবস্থা]]