Buying train tickets from Nukus to Aktau/Mangistau

[zshbleaker]

I'm planning a trip to UZ and KZ and there are multiple rides of train included. Everything goes smoothly until I'm buying the ticket of the direct train from Nukus, UZ to Aktau/Mangistau, KZ.

As for now (Mar 2025), the tickets are open for sale on 60 days in advance before the departure. I've ordered tickets among Tashkent, Samarkand, Bukhara and Nukus. However, the tickets from Nukus to Mangistau is not available for any single day in the future. There should be trains on each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. But all I can find is "There are no seats".

Does it mean that all the tickets have been sold out even for 60 days in advance? Or is it a common case that for certain trains, travelers need to go to the ticket office but cannot purchase online?

Appreciate for any information.

[gilligroom]

Hi
I read on this forum that because the road is currently closed for renovation and people can't cross by car or road transport the train tickets are selling out almost immediately. As you say, the UZ railways site the bookings are open through to May 8 but not available. I was hoping for a late April ticket, it seems a lot to have to get back to Tashkent to fly to Aktau (via Almaty).

[zshbleaker]

Hi
I read on this forum that because the road is currently closed for renovation and people can't cross by car or road transport the train tickets are selling out almost immediately. As you say, the UZ railways site the bookings are open through to May 8 but not available. I was hoping for a late April ticket, it seems a lot to have to get back to Tashkent to fly to Aktau (via Almaty).

Thanks a lot for the response. Now I sadly understand why I cannot even see one single available tickets...

As the road is also closed, looks like there is no way rather than take a flight. What is really annoying is that our plan was to visit Almaty right after Aktau, now needs to go Almaty first for layover.

Thanks again for your response, and hope it could help any other travelers coming here with similar questions like me.

[zshbleaker]

For anyone coming here, I just got another response from a tour agency located in Nukus:

> we have contacted the railway station and they have told us that the sales have not begun for the April

I booked the tour to Aral Sea from this agency, and I personally consider them trustworthy.

[Milad]

It depends on the train you intend to take. For certain trains (the Tajik ones), there are few or no tickets sold to travel the short distance from Nukus to Beineu. Train 323F (to Volgograd) also has a very limited number of tickets available for journeys not ending in Russia (to save places for long-distance passengers). Train 651F (Nukus - Beineu) is open for sale until at least 25th April and there are plenty of seats/beds available for example for the 18th, 21st or 25th of April. You could take this train and make your way to Aktau with a Kazakh domestic train from Beineu (there should be plenty).

[gilligroom]

Good news! Tickets window has opened- I booked mine this morning