COMMISSIONING of the first metro line in the Kazakh capital Astana is nearing completion with testing of trains and systems reaching key milestones. The light metro is expected to open later this year.
According to the project manager Astana LRT, trains have reached their design speed of 80km/h while the traffic management, communication and signalling systems are operating correctly. Trial operation is now underway to simulate real operating conditions, including passenger boarding and alighting, station dwell times and train scheduling.
The 21.3km elevated light metro runs from Nurly Zhol, Astana’s main station, south via the national museum, Astana Arena and the university to the airport with 18 stations. The light metro is designed for driverless operation at Grade of Automation 4 (GoA4).
CRRC Tangshan has supplied a fleet of 19 four-car trains, which are expected to operate at 4-5-minute headways. The light metro has capacity to transport 146,000 passengers per day.
Almaty metro
Feasibility studies have been completed for the construction of a second metro line in Almaty in southern Kazakhstan together with the city’s first light rail line. The underground metro line will run from Jibek Joly at the intersection of Gogol and Panfilov streets to Almaty International Airport with six stations.
For more information on Asian metro projects, subscribe to IRJ Pro.
