In the deep autumn of Tashkent, in a station dispatch room, the train timetable keeps jumping on the screen. On October 29, 2026, a delegation of experts from HUAWEI and Southwest Jiaotong University walked in here, their gaze fixed on the flow path of every screen click, every conversation, and every instruction of the dispatcher. What they care about is not how new the equipment is, but what the system still lacks. These on-site observations will become a draft of a technical solution.

A dispatch room in Tashkent

During the visit, the delegation conducted on-site inspections of station operations, the work of the railway dispatch center, existing digital systems, and the operation status of the Uzbekistan Railway Company Situation Center. Which links still rely on manual transmission of information, which data cannot flow, and which decisions lack real-time support, have become the focus of evaluation. Both parties further evaluate the space for improving operational management through digital technology, including developing an upgrade path for existing systems and strengthening coordination in various aspects of railway operations. Previously, the company had adopted Huawei's high-quality 10 gigabit campus network solution to lay the foundation for digital application access, security, and operation.

Three parties sitting at the same table

This visit is part of a broader collaboration between Uzbekistan Railway Company, HUAWEI, and Chinese university experts in the field of digital technology for railway infrastructure. Both parties discussed the cooperation of railway digital technology, the implementation of previous agreements on train dispatch management system (TMS), and the exchange of technical experience. The topics focused on the existing business processes of train operation management, as well as possible technological solutions for modernizing railway traffic control systems. This timeline is not unfamiliar: in February 2026, the three parties held an exchange meeting at the Xipu Campus of Southwest Jiaotong University and entered the laboratory of high-speed railways and marshalling yards; At the Berlin Rail Show in September, Ukraine and HUAWEI held talks again on digitization and intelligence. Now, the discussion has moved from the conference room to the scheduling site.

From buying equipment to learning standards

The division of labor among the three parties is becoming increasingly clear. HUAWEI provides a communication and digital base. Its smart rail scheme has served more than 50 rail customers around the world, and has participated in the construction of special communication networks for Ya'an Wanzhou high-speed railway and China Laos railway; Southwest Jiaotong University brings a discipline system and talent cultivation capability of transportation organization and intelligence. Its Tianyou Railway College has trained more than 6000 localized railway talents for the co construction of the country; Wu Fang presented real scenes and operational data. The significance goes beyond just a system. According to the plan of the Ukrainian side, the passenger and freight volume will at least double from 2026 to 2030. 151 kilometers of railways will be built, 182 kilometers of electrification will be completed, 27 stations and 1000 kilometers of lines will be modernized and upgraded. The application of artificial intelligence in transportation management is expected to reduce transportation costs by 20%; The net profit of the industry in the first nine months of 2025 has exceeded 800 billion sum, leaving room for continued investment.

The Digital Uzbekistan 2030 Strategy aims to accelerate the digital transformation of various economic sectors, including transportation infrastructure and public services. The modernization of railway management systems supports more efficient operations and smoother traffic coordination, and also enables digital tools to truly enter the daily industry. Opportunities are extending from selling equipment to participating in defining a system and standards.Editor/Yang Meiling