Caravanistan

Probably yes, via Jalal-Abad, but as Kokand-Tashkent takes only 4 hours by train due to the new tunnel, going around the mountains via Tashkent will be a lot faster than through them...

I never had problems to exchange $50 notes. $100 will most likely be accepted as well, but that would mean a huge number of bills to carry in UZS, as the highest UZS bill is 50000 (USD 6). Also, the exchange offices frequently run out of UZS 50000 notes, meaning you might get only notes of 10000 or ...

You should have gotten some kind of a booking confirmation with which you can pick up a paper ticket at the station.

I have found no information. I don't think it's going to run before May or maybe June this year.

The passenger train has recently run for the first time on the railway, for testing purposes and without normal passengers however. I have no information when they open the railway for passengers, my guess would be the beginning of summer.

I have tried one of the Russian sites but that tells me the train is full (even if I pick the furthest date in advance that is available) which I do not believe . Most probably, Russian trains are already open for sale (90 days before) but Uzbek trains are not yet open for sale (45 days before); un...

Funnily one could say that both KZ and KG are renaming their capital after their airport (to be more accurate of course the guy they named the airport after)...

I have not taken it, but know the following: First of all, the train is absolutely safe, I have not heard of anyone having problems when simply passing through by train. However, expect to be questioned by the FSB (and maybe Ukrainian and Azeri agents) at the border crossings. This can be quite inti...

Some trains have electronic registration, others don't. It depends on the conductors, not all have a device to check print-at-home tickets.

The train you booked does not support electronic registration. There should be some kind of booking confirmation, which you have to exchange at a kassa for a paper ticket.