Transport Infrastructure - The Times Of Central Asia

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International transport

Trade Along Irtysh River Creates New Opportunities and Regional Challenges for Kazakhstan

The Irtysh is the longest transboundary tributary river in the world. It flows through the territories of Kazakhstan, Russia, and China, which gives it important strategic significance as a connecting link in maintaining its ecological balance, as well as in its potential use for international transit logistics. Together with the Ob River, the Irtysh connects the transport corridor of the New Silk Road with the Northern Sea Route, thereby integrating Eurasian transport corridors into the global transport system. Reserves of River Logistics According to Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport, the waterway along the river could be integrated into a large-scale multimodal logistics project. Currently, navigation on the Irtysh River within Kazakhstan runs for just over 1,600km — from Lake Zaysan to the border point of Klin with Russia. The navigation season lasts an average of 192 days, from April to November. During this period, river transport carried out a significant volume of shipments, ensuring connectivity between the regions of Eastern Kazakhstan, Pavlodar, and the border areas of Russia. The riverbank infrastructure includes the Pavlodar River Port, which has a handling capacity of up to 650,000 tons per year and a network of 10 permanent berths – Tugyl, Oktyabrsky, Ust-Kamenogorsk, "Irtyshtrans," "Gravelit," and others – that can handle up to 10,000 tons of cargo daily. The river fleet used for cargo transportation consists of about 95 vessels, including barges, tugs, and auxiliary units. Ship repair functions are performed by three specialized enterprises in Ust-Kamenogorsk, Semey, and Pavlodar. However, most of the technical base requires major renovation: equipment and structures are heavily worn, and the fleet of vessels is mostly outdated. The Irtysh basin remains a key cargo-generating region, accounting for more than 90% of the country's river freight. In 2024, the total volume of river transport amounted to 1.5 million tons, including 296,000 tons of export cargo to Russia. To systematically modernize river transport, in January 2025, a roadmap for the comprehensive development of shipping on the Irtysh River was approved. According to Deputy Transport Minister Maksat Kaliakparov, the main measures include the construction of a new river port in Tugyl, the modernization of existing berths, the purchase of modern transport vessels, the opening of the Urlitobe river crossing point on the border with Russia, and the creation of logistics and multimodal hubs. Plans also include the construction of hydraulic engineering structures, riverbed clearing, and dredging works, which will increase the waterway's throughput capacity and create conditions for year-round navigation. All this will undoubtedly require significant infrastructure investments, the amount of which, according to the Ministry of Transport, will be specified based on the results of the design and estimate documentation and negotiations with private and foreign investors. The implementation of these measures opens up opportunities for an even larger project – a multimodal transit corridor between Russia, Kazakhstan, and China, which will involve the movement of ships on the Omsk-Tugyl section with further delivery of cargo by road or rail to China. One of the key elements of the project being...

Railway Development

Modernization of Kazakh Railway Infrastructure is a Priority

According to the National Infrastructure Plan of the Republic of Kazakhstan until 2029, the overall level of wear and tear of the railroad network is about 50%. In addition, the qualitative characteristics of the track do not meet current business demands and are inferior to other countries in terms of its development. In order to improve the quality and guarantee reliable and safe transportation of passengers and cargo by rail, KTZ plans to repair about 11,000 km of railway sections by 2029. According to JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, which operates the country's railway mainline network, 1,430 km of track was repaired as part of last year's summer track works, including 570 km of major railway track overhauls. As Sakеn Rakhmetov, Brach Director of KTZ’s Mainline Network Directorate, told The Times of Central Asia, train speed improvements were achieved on 413 km of track for passenger trains with Talgo cars, 605 km for passenger trains, and 406 km and 507 km for freight and container trains, respectively. In the upcoming season, which will begin in March, 1,480 km of track across the country are planned for repair, including 512 km of major overhauls. "Repair work will be carried out on key railway sections with heavy train traffic. The first projects are planned on the Beineu-Mangystau, Zhambyl-Tyulkubas, Shu-Almaty, and Makat-Aksarayskaya sections," Rakhmetov explained. KTZ has developed a corresponding Program for the Development of Railway Infrastructure Capacity. Several modernization and reconstruction projects are planned, including upgrades to signaling, centralization, and blocking systems. "A limiting factor in the railway infrastructure's throughput capacity is the processing ability of stations, as well as the useful length of receiving and departure tracks. With the introduction of modern locomotive types and the increasing share of container trains, both train weight and composition length have grown, while station infrastructure has remained unchanged. For instance, 59% of stations and passing loops currently cannot accommodate long trains. Therefore, by 2029, the development of approximately 200 stations and junction points is planned. This year alone, work is set to begin on 31 stations," Rakhmetov stated. Notably, to increase the processing capacity of railway stations, a Sorting Systems Development Program was approved in 2024. As part of this program, work will begin this year on modernizing the sorting system at Karaganda-Sortirovochnaya station. Overall, by 2029, Kazakhstan plans to construct 5,000 km of new railway lines and repair 11,000 km of tracks, with 2,800 km already having been renovated over the past two years. Regarding the modernization of station buildings and passenger platforms, efforts to provide high-quality services to the population saw the completion of routine repairs on 36 stations in 2024. Architectural lighting was installed at the Astana-1 and Kurort-Borovoe stations, while heating systems were repaired at 16 stations. In total, between 2024 and 2029, 54 stations across the country will undergo modernization and major renovations at an estimated cost of 100 billion tenge ($204 million).

International transport

Development of a Maritime Fleet in a Landlocked Country

It may come as a surprise to some, but despite being a landlocked country far from any ocean, Kazakhstan is actively developing its maritime fleet. The country recognizes that to play a significant role in maritime transport across the Caspian Sea, Kazakhstan must enhance the competitiveness of its commercial fleet, alongside improving coastal infrastructure and services. This initiative not only generates revenue for Kazakh transport companies and contributes to the national budget but also safeguards the country's foreign trade. Kazakhstan has set an ambitious goal to establish a regional transit hub based on its Caspian Sea ports, Aktau and Kuryk. It is attracting major international players to develop its logistics services and integrate Kazakhstan into the global trade and transport network. However, the development of the national commercial fleet is lagging. The shortage of a strong fleet means Kazakhstan struggles to compete with the maritime industries of other Caspian nations. It is no secret that most maritime transport between the ports of Aktau/Kuryk and Baku is currently handled by the Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping Company, one of the largest maritime transport operators in the region. The company owns more than 50 transport vessels and over 110 specialized ships and plans to implement a large-scale investment program to modernize its fleet by 2029. Meanwhile, according to Kazakhstan’s Bureau of National Statistics, 263 maritime vessels are registered in the country. However, more than 70% of these vessels are over 25 years old. The aging fleet and weak presence in the maritime transport market prevent Kazakhstan from increasing its share in global supply chains, meaning most of the profits from freight transport go to foreign carriers. The longstanding principle discussed in Kazakhstan’s transport sector — “Our Cargo – Our Port – Our Fleet”— could enable domestic transport companies to earn up to 30% more through logistics-related revenue. According to World Bank estimates, by 2030, cargo transportation via the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route is expected to reach 11 million tons. The Concept for the Development of Kazakhstan’s Transport and Logistics Potential until 2030 forecasts that the volume of containerized transit cargo along this corridor from China will grow by at least 40,000 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent units) in the next five years. Over the past decade, Kazakhstan’s domestic tanker fleet has significantly reduced its oil transport operations, as most of the country's crude oil is now transported via pipelines. However, a recent drone attack on the Caspian Pipeline Consortium's (CPC) largest oil pumping station and a subsequent statement from “Transneft” warning that this could lead to a 30% reduction in Kazakhstan’s oil exports highlight the urgent need for an alternative maritime route for oil transport. This would help maintain stable oil production in the country’s fields. Accelerating the modernization and expansion of Kazakhstan’s national fleet will integrate the country into the regional transport and logistics system, reduce dependency on foreign vessels, and protect foreign trade from volatile freight market conditions — especially given ongoing geopolitical uncertainties in the region. A key initiative expected to strengthen Kazakhstan’s...

Transport Infrastructure

First PPP Project to Build Major Railway Launched in Kyrgyzstan

On February 19, a public-private partnership (PPP) agreement was signed in Bishkek for the "Trans-Eurasian Route" railway project, marking Kyrgyzstan’s first PPP initiative in the railway sector. The agreement was signed between the National Investment Agency under the President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kyrgyzstan’s national railway company Kyrgyz Temir Zholu, and the U.S.-based consortium All American Rail Group Global Infrastructure Partner LLC. The project involves constructing a railway across central Kyrgyzstan, traversing mountainous terrain from east to west, and connecting Karakol in the northeastern Issyk-Kul region with Makmal in the southwestern Jalal-Abad region. According to the National Investment Agency, the railway will be a key step in modernizing Kyrgyzstan’s transport infrastructure, enhancing regional connectivity and economic development. National Investment Agency Director Talantbek Imanov stated that the project represents an investment of approximately $3 billion, expected to create new jobs, improve the national transport network, and generate long-term economic benefits. Additionally, the railway will enhance Kyrgyzstan’s connectivity with neighboring countries, particularly through its link to the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway, which will pass through Makmal. The China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan (CKU) railway project, officially launched in December 2024, aims to serve as a major East-West trade route. Construction of the CKU railway is already underway. The 523-kilometer CKU railway will connect Kashgar (China), Torugart, Makmal, Jalal-Abad (Kyrgyzstan), and Andijan (Uzbekistan). Once completed, it is expected to transport up to 15 million tons of cargo annually, facilitating trade between China, Central Asia, the Middle East — including Turkey — and the European Union.