Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has released its annual traffic safety performance review for 2024, highlighting measurable gains across multiple operational metrics. The national railway operator achieved a 15% reduction in safety violations compared to 2023, while its overall traffic safety target improved by 14% over the same period.
Inspection Regimen and Corrective Actions
KTZ Traffic Safety Department auditors completed more than 9,000 field inspections throughout the year, uncovering more than 100,000 instances of non-conformity. These findings triggered more than 20,000 corrective measures, including the withdrawal from service of rolling stock and infrastructure components deemed to fall below acceptable reliability thresholds.
To reinforce a culture of safety compliance, KTZ recognized more than 200 employees who demonstrated vigilance in preventing violations and contributing to improved safety indicators. The operator also introduced new departmental awards designed to incentivize adherence to safety protocols across all levels of the organization.
Track Diagnostics and Rolling Stock Monitoring
A cornerstone of KTZ's 2024 safety strategy involved systematic track condition assessment. Diagnostic vehicles and flaw detection trolleys surveyed more than 460,000 kilometers of railway track—a figure exceeding the 2023 coverage by 19,000 kilometers. This expanded inspection regime identified more than 4,000 kilometers of track requiring attention due to unsatisfactory condition.
The proactive approach yielded tangible results: the total extent of problematic track sections decreased by 395 kilometers compared to the prior year. Simultaneously, the frequency of acutely defective rails and sections classified under grade 4 faults declined substantially, reflecting sustained efforts to address emergency risk factors before they escalate.
Rolling stock oversight expanded in parallel. KTZ deployed 614 units of the Complex of Technical Means for Monitoring (KTSM) to assess vehicle condition, enabling the inspection of more than 5 million individual cars and locomotives—representing a 60,000-unit increase relative to 2023 volumes. Inspections resulted in the removal from service of 2,500 cars equipped with defective roller and cassette axle boxes, a 15% year-on-year increase in such stoppages.
Digital Systems and Risk Management Integration
KTZ advanced its safety infrastructure through expanded automation during 2024. The Traffic Safety Auditor platform, which delivers real-time safety intelligence across all management tiers, received 18 new analytical output forms. These additions enable more granular tracking of inspection results and violation patterns by structural division, enhancing the operator's ability to diagnose the depth of persistent problems and inform targeted management decisions.
Data accumulated within the system spans a decade of audit checks and safety violations, providing longitudinal context for trend analysis and corrective planning.
A newly implemented Risk Analysis for Traffic Safety module enables more precise calculation of how diverse risk factors influence train traffic security. The platform displays current risk levels and automatically generates data streams supporting the formulation of corrective measures.
KTZ also finalized integration between the Traffic Safety Auditor and automated corrective measure generation workflows, tightening the link between risk identification and responsive action. The Info-Center Information Complex—responsible for monitoring train section status—received three new functional modules: Warnings, Track Diagnostics, and Passenger Transportation. These components deliver alerts on emerging risks and strengthen infrastructure condition analysis and schedule compliance monitoring for passenger services.