Afrosiyob High-Speed Train: How Indians Can Book Tashkent–Samarkand–Bukhara Tickets

The short answer
Where to book: on the official Uzbekistan Railways site or the Uzrailway tickets app. Tickets usually go on sale about 45 days before departure, and popular trains can sell out within hours.
What it costs: Tashkent to Samarkand starts at 311,000 som in Economy, and Tashkent to Bukhara at 509,000 som, after the February 2026 fare rise.
The catch for Indians: foreign cards work for some travellers and fail for others. Have a backup plan before release day.

The Afrosiyob is the fastest way to travel Uzbekistan's Silk Road cities. It turns Tashkent to Samarkand into a comfortable morning ride instead of a long road journey, and it links Samarkand and Bukhara in about an hour and a half. For a 6 or 7-day Uzbekistan trip, it often decides whether your itinerary works at all.

The problem is getting a seat. Tickets sell out, the booking site can be slow, and Indian cards don't always go through. This guide walks you through the booking step by step, with fixes for the usual problems. For the bigger picture, see our Uzbekistan travel guide.

Afrosiyob train at a glance

Afrosiyob ticket prices in 2026

Source: Kun.uz, January 2026. Samarkand to Bukhara is cheaper, at around 165,000 som in Economy, according to a 2026 booking guide. Always check the price shown at booking.

Which class should you pick? Economy is comfortable for a 2-hour ride. Business gives you a wider 2+1 seat, which helps on the longer Tashkent to Bukhara run. VIP is a small step up again and suits couples or older travellers.

How to book Afrosiyob tickets online: step by step

1.     Open the official site at eticket.railway.uz or the Uzrailway tickets app, and switch the language to English.

2.     Choose your from and to stations (Tashkent, Samarkand, or Bukhara) and your date.

3.     Look for trains marked Afrosiyob. If your preferred time is full, check other departures that day.

4.     Pick a class: Economy, Business or VIP.

5.     Enter each traveller's details exactly as printed in the passport: full name, passport number, nationality, date of birth, and gender.

6.     Pay by card. Uzbek cards work best. International cards work for some travellers but not all.

Download the PDF ticket straight away and take a screenshot of the confirmation. A copy is also emailed to you.

Release-day tip for Indian travellers

Tickets are released at midnight Tashkent time. Uzbekistan is 30 minutes behind India, so that is 12:30 am IST. For busy dates, be online then with all passport details ready.

Peak months are April to May and September to October, plus weekends. Morning trains sell out first.

If your Indian card doesn't work

This is the most common problem for Indian travellers. Try these in order:

•       Retry later, try a different browser, and switch off any VPN.

•       Try another card. Some cards work where others are declined.

•       Buy at a station counter after you arrive. The main stations in Tashkent, Samarkand and Bukhara sell tickets during the day, roughly 8:00 to 20:00, though seats may be gone.

•       Ask your hotel to book for you. Some charge a small fee of a few dollars.

•       Use a third-party booking site. These usually accept foreign cards but add a markup.

•       Book through a tour operator. On a package, the train is arranged and paid for you.

If the Afrosiyob is full, the slower Sharq and Nasaf trains run on the same corridor and often still have seats.

On the day: stations, security and boarding

•       Check your Tashkent station. Tashkent has a main (North) station and a South station, about 7 km apart. Your ticket shows which one.

•       Arrive early. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. You show your ticket and passport to enter, and bags go through a security scanner.

•       Keep your passport handy. It must be the same one you used to book.

•       Show your ticket on your phone. A PDF, the email, or a printout all work.

•       Ignore the touts. Taxi and tour sellers wait at Samarkand station. Use a booked transfer or a ride app.

What the ride is like

The Afrosiyob is a modern Spanish-built train with air-conditioning and a cafe car. Economy passengers have reported tea and a small snack soon after leaving Tashkent. Overhead racks take normal suitcases.

Going west from Tashkent, travellers recommend a seat on the left-hand side for mountain views for much of the way. Vegetarians should carry their own snacks, as choices on board are limited.

How the Afrosiyob fits an Uzbekistan trip

Khiva is served by a separate high-speed train, not the Afrosiyob, so check timings if you add it. All three main cities are UNESCO-listed; our guide to Uzbekistan's UNESCO World Heritage Sites explains what to see in each.

Before you book: entry rules for Indians

Most Indian passport holders still need an Uzbekistan e-visa. A presidential decree from 1 September 2026 allows visa-free stays of up to 30 days only for Indians who hold a valid multiple-entry tourist or business visa from countries such as the US, UK, a Schengen state, Canada, Australia, Japan, South Korea or New Zealand, plus an onward or return ticket. Check the latest rules before you travel, and book train tickets only once your entry plans are clear.

Skip the booking stress

When you book an Uzbekistan tour with us, we can arrange your train seats, transfers and hotels, so you just turn up at the station. Browse our Uzbekistan tour packages and tell us your dates.