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Railways

EDB to Fund Feasibility Study for Railway in Kyrgyzstan’s Issyk-Kul Region

The Eurasian Development Bank (EDB) will provide a grant to Kyrgyzstan’s national railway company, Kyrgyz Temir Jolu, to prepare a preliminary feasibility study for a new railway line connecting the cities of Balykchy and Cholpon-Ata in the Issyk-Kul region. Balykchy and Cholpon-Ata are located 79 km apart. At present, the railway linking Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, with Lake Issyk-Kul ends in Balykchy. The planned section would extend the line to Cholpon-Ata, the main resort city on the lake’s northern shore. A technical assistance agreement for financing the study was signed on August 14 by Azamat Sakiev, General Director of Kyrgyz Temir Jolu, and Iaroslav Mandron, Vice Chairman of the EDB Management Board. According to the EDB, the Balykchy-Cholpon-Ata project aims to boost both tourism and freight connectivity in the Issyk-Kul region, linking its resorts to the railway networks of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It is also expected to support mineral resource development and expand freight operations by creating more reliable logistics routes. The preliminary feasibility study will compare technical and economic options, determine the optimal construction approach, develop a high-level financial and economic model, and provide recommendations for implementation and financing. “The new Balykchy-Cholpon-Ata railway section is crucial not only for strengthening Kyrgyzstan’s domestic transport system but also for advancing international logistics,” said Mandron. “The project will integrate with Tamchy Airport, about 40 km from Cholpon-Ata, helping increase both tourist and cargo traffic. The feasibility study is a strategic step that will allow the parties to move from intentions to concrete implementation mechanisms for a project estimated at around $500 million.”

Railways

Kazakhstan to Build Strategic Railway Bridge Across Syr Darya River

Kazakhstan will construct a 500-meter railway bridge over the Syr Darya River as part of a strategic infrastructure initiative to bolster transport links with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the national railway company, has announced. Preparatory works are already underway, with construction progressing on a 152-kilometer segment of the new Darbaza-Maktaaral railway line, stretching from Erdaut station to the Syr Darya floodplain. The full project will include 35 bridges in total. The Darbaza-Maktaaral line is seen as vital for strengthening Kazakhstan’s transport and transit infrastructure. It is expected to ease pressure on the congested Saryagash-Tashkent rail corridor and the heavily utilized Saryagash border station, enabling a significant increase in freight traffic to Uzbekistan and beyond-to Tajikistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. Once operational, the railway is projected to carry over 20 million tons of cargo annually. In addition to its international significance, the project is poised to stimulate economic development in southern Kazakhstan. By directly linking the Maktaaral and Zhetysai districts to the national rail network, it will eliminate the need to transit through Uzbek territory, streamlining domestic logistics and enhancing regional accessibility. Completion of the Darbaza-Maktaaral railway is scheduled for 2026.

Trans-Caspian Corridor

Kazakhstan and China Boost Rail Trade via Middle Corridor Agreement

Kazakhstan and China have signed a renewed strategic agreement to strengthen rail connectivity and increase freight volumes along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), also known as the Middle Corridor. At a ceremony in Beijing, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) and China State Railway Group concluded a new Agreement on Comprehensive Strategic Cooperation, replacing the framework established in 2014. The updated agreement reflects evolving priorities in railway transport and logistics between the two countries. According to KTZ, the agreement aims to reinforce Kazakhstan’s role as a key logistics hub between East and West and expand the Middle Corridor’s capacity as an alternative trade route linking China and Europe. Surging Freight Volumes and Strategic Exports Rail freight between China and Kazakhstan continues to grow rapidly. From January to May 2025, cargo volumes reached 14.2 million tons, an 11% increase compared to the same period last year. Grain exports, in particular, surged by 46% to 1.6 million tons, underscoring Kazakhstan’s expanding role not only as a transit state but also as a supplier of strategic commodities such as agricultural products and raw materials. This growth aligns with Kazakhstan’s broader economic goals of trade diversification and regional integration. Zhetysu Terminal: A Key Infrastructure Milestone A critical component of the strengthened transport network is the Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty, inaugurated on June 10. Jointly developed by Kazakhstan and China, the terminal is expected to serve as a central logistics hub for the consolidation and distribution of Chinese cargo transported via rail and road. As previously reported by The Times of Central Asia, the terminal is positioned to become a key platform for transshipment along the TITR, further enhancing its competitiveness as a vital link in East-West trade flows. Strategic Implications for the Region As Kazakhstan accelerates transport infrastructure modernization and strengthens rail cooperation with China, the newly signed agreement is anticipated to deliver long-term benefits for regional connectivity, supply chain resilience, and Eurasian trade corridors. The enhanced focus on the Middle Corridor comes amid global efforts to diversify trade routes and reduce dependence on traditional corridors through Russia, reinforcing the geopolitical and economic significance of Kazakhstan’s transport strategy.

Trade

Zhetysu Terminal in Almaty to Welcome First China-Europe Freight Train

Kazakhstan’s national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), has announced that the new Zhetysu container terminal in Almaty will receive its first container train on June 10. The train departed from the joint Kazakh-Chinese cargo terminal in Xi’an, China, on June 1. The Zhetysu terminal is set to become Almaty’s largest container hub for the consolidation and distribution of Chinese goods, handling cargo transported by both rail and road. It will offer comprehensive logistics services, including warehousing, customs clearance, and door-to-door delivery on a "first and last mile" basis. Strategically located at the intersection of major international transport routes, Zhetysu is expected to play a key role in facilitating cargo movement along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a growing trade corridor connecting China and Europe via Kazakhstan. Strategic Synergy with Xi’an Terminal The terminal will operate in coordination with the Kazakh-Chinese terminal in Xi’an, which became operational in February 2024. That facility has an annual handling capacity of 133,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), significantly boosting bilateral trade and transit freight volumes. In related news, KTZ reported that the 100,000th container, measured in TEU, has now departed from Xi’an along the TITR. The train, comprising 50 containers, is carrying electronics, furniture, and consumer goods bound for European markets.

Tourism

First Tourist Train Links China’s Xi’an and Kazakhstan’s Almaty

On May 29, the inaugural tourist train connecting Xi’an, the capital of China’s Shaanxi province, with Almaty, Kazakhstan’s largest city, departed, marking a new chapter in cross-border tourism and cultural exchange. According to the national railway operator, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the departure ceremony was held in Xi’an and attended by a Kazakh delegation led by KTZ Deputy Chairman Anuar Akhmetzhanov, along with representatives from Chinese authorities, tourism agencies, and transport organizations. Akhmetzhanov emphasized that the project aims to deepen cultural ties and boost bilateral tourism. “We are confident that this journey will leave a lasting impression on our guests from China and lay the groundwork for new joint initiatives,” he said. The train will travel through Urumqi in Xinjiang, cross the Kazakh-Chinese border at Khorgos, and proceed via Altynkol station to Almaty. The train comprises nine carriages and is carrying 246 passengers, including Chinese businesspeople, academics, entertainers, and athletes. During their five-day visit, passengers will explore the historical and cultural landmarks of Kazakhstan’s southern capital, participate in organized tours, and attend cultural and business events. Xi’an also holds strategic importance for Kazakhstan as the site of a Kazakh-operated logistics terminal. This facility has significantly boosted rail container traffic along the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR), a key corridor linking China and Europe via Kazakhstan.

Railway

Kazakhstan Boosts Rail Transit of Grain and Coal Through Russia

Kazakhstan has significantly increased the volume of grain and coal transported via rail through Russia, particularly along the eastern route of the North-South transport corridor. According to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), the country’s national railway operator, container traffic along this corridor rose by 63% in the first quarter of 2025, surpassing 1,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU). The North-South corridor links Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Iran, with an annual cargo capacity of 10 million tons. Its eastern route, which passes through Kazakhstan, is emerging as a vital artery for regional trade. Grain and Container Exports on the Rise Between September 2024 and April 2025, Kazakhstan exported over 650,000 tons of grain through Russian and Baltic Sea ports. Meanwhile, containerized freight between China and Russia via Kazakhstan increased by 30% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2025, exceeding 132,000 TEU. Coal Shipments Surge Coal transit volumes saw a particularly dramatic rise. From January to March 2025, Kazakhstan exported 2.3 million tons of coal through Russian territory, an increase of 44.5% compared to the same period in 2024. Of this total, 1.3 million tons were shipped through Baltic Sea ports, while another 900,000 tons were exported via Azov and Black Sea ports, a fivefold increase over last year. At an April 28 meeting in Almaty, representatives from KTZ and Russian Railways reaffirmed their commitment to expanding cooperation. The two sides agreed to increase shipments of Kazakh coal to Russian ports and continue developing strategic joint initiatives. In November 2024, KTZ and Russian Railways signed a landmark agreement to modernize railway infrastructure at nine key border stations. The deal includes plans to increase capacity and implement a unified digital system to streamline transportation and cross-border logistics.