Improving the Use of Digital Technologies in the Design of Railway Operation Systems

The integration of digital technologies into the design and operation of railway systems has emerged as a critical determinant of efficiency, transparency, and competitiveness in the global transport sector. Since 2017, international reforms have accelerated the adoption of digital infrastructures, reshaping the governance and management of public services, including railways. This study investigates the current state of digitalization in Uzbekistan’s railway sector, situating the analysis within the broader context of global best practices. Drawing upon comparative experiences from Singapore, Germany, Russia, and the United Kingdom, the research employs a mixed-methods approach that combines comparative analysis, statistical evaluation, and benchmarking against international indices such as the World Bank’s Doing Business and Ease of Doing Business (EoDB). The findings reveal persistent challenges including bureaucratic inefficiencies, limited digital maturity, skill shortages among personnel, and vulnerability to corruption risks. These constraints hinder the effective deployment of advanced technologies such as Computer-Aided Design (CAD), predictive analytics, and standardized Service Level Agreements (SLA). To address these gaps, the paper proposes a phased implementation model tailored to Uzbekistan, encompassing infrastructure audits, pilot projects, scaling of digital platforms, and eventual integration of artificial intelligence into operational processes. The study contributes to the literature on public sector digital transformation by contextualizing service quality and efficiency theories (New Public Management, SERVQUAL) within a post-Soviet railway environment. The proposed framework underscores the necessity of aligning national reforms with international benchmarks, thereby positioning Uzbekistan’s railway system for sustainable modernization and integration into global logistics networks.