CKU
The CKU railway: under construction, not open — Iran cargo moves by road
News says the China–Kyrgyzstan–Uzbekistan (CKU) railway has entered real construction. That changes the future, not now. The line is not open. Iran cargo today moves by road: currently 21–23 days from the Wuqia crossing to the bonded warehouse at Tehran West Customs, with the domestic leg to Wuqia typically within 7 days on top and counted separately. Do not plan production around a line that has not opened.
- The CKU railway is under construction and not open
- Public milestones are construction progress, not a train timetable or bookable capacity
- Even after it opens, cargo reaching Uzbekistan would still need transloading and a truck leg to enter Iranian customs
- Today: road out through Wuqia, currently 21–23 days from the crossing to the Tehran West Customs bonded warehouse, with the domestic leg to Wuqia typically within 7 days and counted separately
- Do not let anyone quote you a rail timeline or use it to push down the truck rate
Milestones are not a timetable
The alignment is Kashgar–Torugart–Jalal-Abad–Andijan. Public milestones: a 2024-06 agreement, a 2024-12 groundbreaking, tunnel work in 2025-04, about 305 km inside Kyrgyzstan reported in 2026-08. These are construction progress, not train schedules.
Rail to Uzbekistan is not rail to Tehran Customs
Even after the line opens, cargo arriving in Uzbekistan would still need transloading and a truck to enter the Iranian customs bonded warehouse. What we sell is that truck leg, out through Wuqia or Khorgos, under TIR.
How it moves now
By road, and the day count starts at the border. From the Wuqia crossing a direct truck currently runs 21–23 days to the Tehran West Customs bonded warehouse and 18–21 days to Mashhad Customs — to the customs terminal, not to the door. A direct truck transloads once, at Bukhara; a transshipment truck transloads at Osh and again at Bukhara and takes longer. The domestic leg from the origin hub to Wuqia is typically within 7 days (an estimate, confirmed per booking) and is counted separately. Transit time on the Khorgos line is quoted on request. The 0.4% invoice-value tax applies only on the Wuqia (Irkeshtam) routing through Kyrgyzstan — it is a tax, not freight.
No published rates. To get a quote, send three things: the origin hub; the destination customs (Tehran West Customs / Aprin / Mashhad); and the cargo data — HS code, gross weight in kg, volume in CBM.
FAQ
Is the CKU railway open?
No. It is still under construction, with no passenger or freight timetable and no bookable capacity.
Can I book rail to Iran?
No. There is no scheduled rail service into Iran. Iran cargo moves by road.
Will the railway make it cheaper?
Even after it opens, reaching Iranian customs would still need transloading and a truck leg, so it cannot be used as a basis for today's rate.
How does Iran cargo move today?
By road, out through Wuqia, under TIR. Counted from the Wuqia crossing, a direct truck currently takes 21 to 23 days to the Tehran West Customs bonded warehouse; the domestic leg from the origin hub to Wuqia is typically within 7 days and is counted separately. These are current operating ranges, not a guaranteed transit.
Related: Road, sea or rail compared · Transit through Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan · TIR trucking from Wuqia to Tehran Customs