12-Year-Old Boy Becomes Kazakhstan's Five-Millionth Rail Passenger of 2026

A 12-year-old boy became the five-millionth passenger of 2026 at Nurly Zhol Railway Station in Kazakhstan. Keldibek Nurdauletov was travelling with his grandmother when the milestone was reached. The moment was marked with gifts and a warm celebration at the station.

The boy and his grandmother were on train No. 9/10, heading from Almaty to Astana. The national rail carrier, Passenger Transportation JSC, identified Keldibek automatically through its ticketing system. His ticket was the one to hit the five-million mark.

As soon as the milestone was confirmed, the train’s conductor stepped in to congratulate him. Keldibek received a basket of fresh fruit, a new iPad, and a pair of wireless headphones. Both he and his grandmother were visibly surprised by the unexpected attention. The commemorative ticket now belongs to Keldibek, marking a special memory from his journey. The event highlighted the efficiency of the rail company’s digital tracking and its effort to recognise passengers in a personal way.

The celebration marked a significant passenger milestone for Kazakhstan’s rail network. Keldibek Nurdauletov’s journey will now be remembered as part of the station’s history. The gifts and recognition also served as a gesture of appreciation from the national rail carrier to its travellers.