Starting July 15, a temporary speed restriction is being introduced on the above-ground lines of the Tashkent Metro. The measure is due to unusually high temperatures that have caused rail temperatures to exceed the regulatory threshold of 55°C.
According to the State Unitary Enterprise “Toshkent Metropoliteni,” train speeds on above-ground sections will be reduced from 60 km/h to 40 km/h every day until 6:00 p.m. The restriction is being implemented in accordance with existing railway safety requirements.
The metro administration warned that the temporary speed reduction could affect train intervals. Waiting times on some sections are expected to increase to as much as 14 minutes. The restriction applies only to above-ground lines and does not affect underground metro routes.
Similar measures have been implemented by the Tashkent Metro in previous years. Under operating regulations, train speeds must be reduced when rail temperatures exceed 55°C. At 60°C, the speed limit is set at 40 km/h; at 65°C, it is reduced to 25 km/h; and if rail temperatures reach 70°C, train operations may be suspended entirely.
In 2023, Yep.uz published a detailed analysis of the air temperatures at which Tashkent’s above-ground metro lines may slow down or even stop operating, as well as why rail temperatures can become significantly higher than the surrounding air temperature. A link to that article can be found below.
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