At the Government session chaired by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov, issues of railway industry and infrastructure development were reviewed. Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev delivered a report on the phased renewal of the freight and passenger fleet, repair of station infrastructure, expansion of transit potential, and implementation of artificial intelligence systems.

According to him, 57% of Kazakhstan’s total freight turnover is currently formed by railway transport, which also accounts for one-third of the gross product of the entire transport industry. At the same time, the freight wagon market is fully competitive. The total fleet currently stands at about 147,000 units, most of which belong to private operators.

“Further development of infrastructure directly affects industrial growth, increased export volumes, and the strengthening of the country’s transit potential. In the railway industry, we identify three key areas: locomotive fleet, wagon fleet, and the mainline network. Work on them is carried out in stages, and the main goal is to increase throughput capacity and meet the prospective demand for transportation,” the Minister noted.

Between 2014 and 2019, a shortage of locomotives was formed in the country due to low volumes of traction rolling stock procurement. To correct the situation, a renewal program was launched in recent years. Deliveries of new domestically produced locomotives will continue until 2028. To date, the renewed fleet fully meets current transportation needs.

Thanks to the work carried out, the wear level of locomotives has been reduced from 74% to 49%. At the same time, the average age of the traction fleet has significantly decreased — from 30 to 21 years. Modernization continues, creating a reliable base for the country’s long-term economic growth.

Along with the large-scale renewal of the freight and traction fleet, the state pays increased attention to improving conditions for passengers by radically modernizing both rolling stock and ground infrastructure.

As part of the execution of the Head of State’s instructions on the modernization of station infrastructure, a program for the renewal of railway stations is being implemented in Kazakhstan. Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev also reported on the progress of repair works at stations across all regions of the republic.

“The main task of all the work being carried out is to provide citizens with safe and comfortable railway transport. Today, the largest program for the modernization of railway stations in the years of independence is being implemented in the country. This major project includes 124 stations in all regions of Kazakhstan. At the same time, local executive bodies are carrying out works on the improvement of station squares. The first 30 stations will be commissioned by July 1 of this year,” Nurlan Sauranbayev noted.

To date, construction and installation works have been completed at 36 facilities.

In addition, according to the Minister, more than 650 passenger wagons have been upgraded in Kazakhstan in recent years. By 2030, the Ministry plans to bring the level of passenger fleet renewal to 90%.

Comfort and reliability of domestic transportation create a solid foundation for expanding Kazakhstan’s international opportunities, allowing the country to consolidate its status as a key transit hub on the continent by expanding transport corridors and introducing advanced digital technologies.

As part of the implementation of the Head of State’s instructions on the development of the country’s transport and logistics potential, Kazakhstan is actively increasing the capacity of international transport corridors. Today, our country provides passage for 80% of overland cargo from China to Europe. Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev reported on plans for the development of transport corridors, construction of new lines to deposits, and terminals at the Government meeting.

“Transit has become the main driver of the domestic railway industry. Over the past 5 years, the volume of transit traffic has grown from 20 million to 33 million tons. Our task is to accelerate this dynamic in the coming decades. We plan to double this indicator by 2030, reaching 67 million tons, and bring the volume of transit to 100 million tons by 2040,” Nurlan Sauranbayev emphasized.

He also noted that terminal infrastructure is being developed at a high pace both inside the country and abroad. Currently, seven terminals are operating along the routes, and another 7 facilities are under construction, which will allow the formation of a unified logistics network on the East–West and North–South directions.

In addition, attention is being paid to the modernization of tracks to large enterprises and deposits. The list of promising projects of the Ministry already includes the modernization of tracks to deposits in the Karagaily area of Karaganda Region and the construction of a new Inderbor–Uralsk line, which will connect the region with direct communication and give a powerful impetus to the development of Western Kazakhstan.

“Currently, large-scale work is underway to digitalize the railway industry. A single data lake is being formed for all major facilities of the sector. In the long term, the implementation of the Smart Rail system is envisaged. This will increase management efficiency through the use of AI and big data analytics. As a result, costs will decrease and the level of safety will increase,” the Minister emphasized.

#Digitalization #Infrastructural development #Logistics #Transport

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