Afstan: A first last spike

This should also help ISAF supplies somewhat:

ADB President Inaugurates Rail Line Linking Afghanistan to Central Asia

HAIRATAN, AFGHANISTAN - Asian Development Bank (ADB) President Haruhiko Kuroda today inaugurated a 75-kilometer stretch of railway line that connects the Afghan city of Mazar-e-Sharif to the country's bustling northern border with Uzbekistan.

"The new rail link between Mazar-e-Sharif and Hairatan will help reduce trade bottlenecks, boost commerce, and speed the flow of much-needed humanitarian assistance," Mr. Kuroda said at the opening ceremony in Hairatan...

The rail link is being constructed from a $165 million ADB grant and should be completed by the end of this year. It will connect Afghanistan to Uzbekistan's expansive rail network, and to regional markets in Europe and Asia. Future links are planned, which will run across the north and to other parts of the country and region, including Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan...

Via Moby Media Updates. Afstan has never had a serious railroad before, lots more on Afstan and railways at immediately preceding link. Earlier (Feb. 2009):

AfPak: Northern suppy route rolling

The train has left the station...