KAZAKHSTAN’s transport minister, Nurlan Sauranbayev, has announced a major programme of new line construction and infrastructure upgrades to increase capacity for growing transit freight traffic on the 16,000km national network.

With 57% of the network in need of renewal, affecting both the speed and safety of freight operations, “infrastructure is operating at full capacity,” according to Sauranbayev. “To improve efficiency and sustainability by 2030, we plan to build new lines, modernise 5000km of existing track, and repair another 11,000km.”

Five new lines are currently under construction in Kazakhstan:

  • Dostyk - Moyinty, connecting the Chinese border with central Kazakhstan
  • Almaty bypass line in southern Kazakhstan
  • Darbaza - Maktaaral in the Turkestan region
  • Moyinty - Kyzylzhar to connect western and central Kazakhstan, and
  • Bakhta - Ayagoz in eastern Kazakhstan, to improve connections with China.

The Dostyk - Moyinty and Almaty bypass lines are due to be completed ahead of schedule later this year. The remaining projects will be finished by 2026, according to the minister, while work will begin this year to upgrade 3000km of existing infrastructure.

The Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) network forms a key component of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR) or Middle Corridor, which avoids Russia and is the shortest route by rail between China and Europe.

Transit traffic on the KTZ network has doubled over the past 10 years, with total of 27.4 million tonnes recorded in 2024. This is trend is expected to continue to reach 33 million tonnes in 2025, 54 million tonnes in 2026, and 67 million tonnes by 2029.

Forecasts also suggest that by 2035 transit traffic could reach 100 million tonnes, worth an estimated Tenge 4.4 trillion ($US 8.2bn). “Our goal is to reach this figure even sooner,” says Sauranbayev.

Seven freight terminals are now in operation at border crossing points, with two new facilities due to open soon and a further five at the planning stage. Sauranbayev says an enhanced freight network will enable Kazakhstan to deliver a rail-based product offering shorter transit times, competitive pricing and improved service.

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