[Sticky] Buying tickets for Uzbekistan railways

1. Where to Buy Train Tickets in Uzbekistan
   You can purchase train tickets in Uzbekistan through the official website: https://eticket.railway.uz/en/home. However, Russian bank cards are not accepted. Alternatively, tickets are available on the Russian Railways (RZD) website or app, with pricing being nearly identical. That said, tickets for the Afrosiyob high-speed train might be noticeably cheaper on RZD compared to Uzbekistan Railways (UzJD). Always compare prices before making a purchase.

If you want to choose a specific seat (important because one side of the train might face direct sunlight for the entire journey), check the seating layout on the Uzbekistan Railways website and book there or through the RZD website. Note that the RZD app does not allow you to select specific seats on the Afrosiyob!

Additionally, the RZD app and website might not work properly while in Uzbekistan, so ensure you save your tickets as a file or print them out beforehand.

You can also buy tickets through railway websites in other CIS countries, like Kazakhstan or Belarus, but be aware that prices might be significantly higher due to intergovernmental tariffs. All these sites use the same Express-2 ticketing system and sell identical tickets but at varying prices. Aggregators like Tutu.ru often include their own markup.

For convenience, the Belarusian Railways website accepts both MIR cards and foreign cards, while the Kazakhstani site only accepts foreign cards.

2. Tickets Without Electronic Registration
   If a ticket is sold without electronic registration (you’ll see this during the purchase process), you must pick it up on physical paper at the ticket office in the country where it was purchased. For instance, a ticket bought on RZD must be picked up in Russia, while one from UzJD must be retrieved in Uzbekistan.

However, such tickets are now very rare. Most are fully electronic.
If electronic registration is available, you don’t need to collect anything additional. Still, it’s recommended to print the ticket on an A4 sheet, as you might be asked for it when entering the train station. Showing it on your phone is also acceptable.

3. Tickets go on sale 60 days in advance. For the Afrosiyob, it’s best to book early, as they tend to sell out quickly.