Hi, Train tickets can be booked 45 days before departure of the trains. Kind regards, GLOBAL CONNECT TEAM

I used Global Connect (globalconnect uz - edit the URL since TripAdvisor does not allow URLs) They are not cheap (50 dollars IIRC) but they offer a transfer in Samarkand, and a local SIM card. I had to transfer the money by Western Union, no credit card. Which costs an additional 10 dollars IIRC. After the death of dictator Islom Karimov in 2016, the country is changing. During my stay in September 2017, the money wass reformed so that the black rate was no longer half the official rate, and changing money at banks was possible again. Also new notes were introduced so that you no longer got a 10 cm pile of notes after changing (which is hard to verify - and money changers are not always honest). Beeline refused to sell me a local SIM, but Global Connect explained to the SIM shop that nowadays foreigners may have local SIM cards. I wonder whether the letter of invitation will still be required in the near future, and they may abolish visa altogether. The country depends on tourism and neighbouring countries like Kazachstan and Kyrgyzstan no longer require visa, at least from Europeans. But ask Anvar Karimov from Global Connect (same surname as the former dictator, but not related) and I am sure you get a honest answer. One warning I traveled in and out of Uzbekistan by train and found that border formalities take many hours, depriving you from sleep in the night train.