Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked country, relies extensively on its railway network for freight and passenger transport. Ensuring effi-ciency and reliability requires targeted investment in rail tracks, intermodal terminals, and modern equipment. This study investigates-the resource efficiency and operational performance of railway terminals in Uz bekistan, fоcusing on key hubs in Tashkent and Navoi. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys with terminal operators, semi-structured interviews with railway man-agers, field observations, and statistical analyses using correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). The results reveal that bulk commodities such as coal, wood products, and flour products have the strongest positive correlation with total freight volume, while certain categories, including grain products and black metals, show negative correlations, suggesting distinct handling patterns and potential inefficiencies. Comparative analysis with Kazakhstan indicates that Uzbekistan’s terminals handle a similar volume of bulk freight but lag in automation levels by approximately 15-20%. The study contributes by identifyingcommodity specific operation-al drivers, highlighting the need for targeted infrastructure upgrades, automation adoption, and strategic scheduling to optimize resource use. These findings offer actionable recommendations for policymakers and railway authorities seeking to enhance competitiveness and sustainability in landlocked regions. Uzbekistan, a doubly landlocked country, relies extensively on its railway network for freight and passenger transport. Ensuring effi-ciency and reliability requires targeted investment in rail tracks, intermodal terminals, and modern equipment. This study investigates-the resource efficiency and operational performance of railway terminals in Uz bekistan, fоcusing on key hubs in Tashkent and Navoi. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining surveys with terminal operators, semi-structured interviews with railway man-agers, field observations, and statistical analyses using correlation and principal component analysis (PCA). The results reveal that bulk commodities such as coal, wood products, and flour products have the strongest positive correlation with total freight volume, while certain categories, including grain products and black metals, show negative correlations, suggesting distinct handling patterns and potential inefficiencies. Comparative analysis with Kazakhstan indicates that Uzbekistan’s terminals handle a similar volume of bulk freight but lag in automation levels by approximately 15-20%. The study contributes by identifyingcommodity specific operation-al drivers, highlighting the need for targeted infrastructure upgrades, automation adoption, and strategic scheduling to optimize resource use. These findings offer actionable recommendations for policymakers and railway authorities seeking to enhance competitiveness and sustainability in landlocked regions.
Adilova et al. (Wed,) studied this question.