Almaty's rail upgrades accelerate as officials demand faster progress

Following an inspection trip and meeting, officials have ordered stricter adherence to project deadlines and an acceleration of construction work.

The leadership of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has inspected key transit and logistics projects in Almaty. During the working visit, an on-site meeting was held to discuss the development of the country's transit potential, as reported by our website, citing the ministry's press service.

Representatives of the national railway company and contracting organizations briefed officials on the progress of construction and installation work for two major projects: the modernization of the Altynkol–Zhetygen rail section and the construction of a bypass railway line around Almaty station.

For the Altynkol–Zhetygen project—a 293-kilometer stretch—major construction work has been completed. The earthworks, totaling 1.5 million cubic meters, have been fully executed, and all bridges and drainage structures have been built. The introduction of microprocessor-based centralized control systems has increased the line's capacity from 18 to 33 train pairs per day while enhancing both safety and operational efficiency.

As part of the 74.5-kilometer bypass line around Almaty station, operational train traffic was launched in December 2025. Since its opening, the line has transported over 150,000 tons of freight. The project has reduced congestion at the Almaty rail hub by 40% and cut cargo delivery times to just one day.

To date, earthworks have been completed, 113.1 kilometers of main and station tracks have been laid, and 18 bridges have been installed. Once fully operational, the project will create more than 306 permanent jobs.

Additionally, core infrastructure construction has been finalized, a Terminal Operating System (TOS) has been implemented, and transshipment equipment has been delivered. The facility has also obtained temporary storage warehouse status. The terminal is scheduled to become operational in May 2026, a development expected to boost Kazakhstan's transit potential and solidify its position as a key logistics hub.

During the inspection of Almaty-1 railway station, reports were heard from contracting firms and responsible agencies. The project involves a full reconstruction of the station building while preserving its existing 17,165.5 square meters of floor space. The upgraded facility will feature modern engineering systems, waiting areas, service infrastructure, and accessibility provisions for passengers with limited mobility.

Currently, work is underway on roofing, structural reinforcement, utility connections, and interior finishing.

Following the trip and meeting, officials have instructed all parties to ensure strict compliance with project timelines and to expedite construction. They have also been tasked with implementing government directives to achieve a transit freight volume of 55 million tons by 2026.