KHUJAND, September 6, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Tajikistan has launched a new railway route to Russia – from Khujand, the capital of the northern Sughd province to Moscow.

Saidjon Ghafourov, the head of the Khujand railway station, says the train with 430 passengers on board will depart from Khujand to Moscow Wednesday (September 7) afternoon.  “It will be once-weekly service,” Ghafourov noted.

Before 1991, a transit train had run from the Uzbek city of Andijan via Khujand to Moscow, the Khujand railway station head added.  The launch of a new railway route to Russia is timed to coincide with the 20th anniversary of Tajikistan’s Independence.