Kazakhstan's national railway operator NC KTZ JSC achieved record cargo throughput in 2024, driven by surging volumes across the Kazakh-Chinese border and expanded transit operations along the Trans-Caspian corridor.
Speaking during a report to President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Chairman of the Management Board Nurlan Sauranbayev confirmed that operational cargo turnover reached 272 billion ton-kilometers, reflecting sustained growth across the network. The volume of cargo transported through Kazakh-Chinese border crossings climbed to 32 million tons, representing a 13.1% increase compared to 2023.
Infrastructure Investment Accelerates
The railway network has undergone substantial rehabilitation and expansion to handle growing freight demand. To date, more than 2,800 km of existing railway lines have undergone repair, restoring capacity and improving operational reliability across key corridors.
Simultaneously, construction crews are advancing work on over 1,000 km of new lines. Three major projects are currently underway: the Dostyk–Moiynty segment, the Darbaza–Maktaaral connection, and the bypass line around the Almaty hub. These additions are designed to relieve congestion at major junction points and create more efficient routing options for freight operators.
Work on second tracks along the Dostyk–Moiynty section and the Zhetygen–Kazybek-bek bypass is progressing ahead of schedule and remains on track for completion in 2025. Once finished, these enhancements will significantly increase bidirectional capacity along one of the most heavily trafficked corridors linking Kazakhstan with China.
Terminal Network Expands Across Continents
Beyond physical rail infrastructure, KTZ has pursued an aggressive strategy of terminal network development to capture additional cargo flows. The launch of a Kazakh-Chinese terminal at Xi'an's dry port has already contributed to increased transit volumes along the Trans-Caspian route, providing shippers with consolidated handling services at the corridor's eastern terminus.
New terminal projects are advancing across multiple locations. In the east-west corridor, construction is underway in Almaty to establish a regional hub. International locations include a facility at Alyat port in Azerbaijan, another in Budapest, Hungary's capital, and a facility near Moscow in the village of Selyatino.
At Aktau port on the Caspian Sea, KTZ and Chinese partner Lianyungang Port have begun construction of a dedicated container hub. The facility will serve as a pivotal transshipment point for cargo moving between Central Asia and European destinations via the Caspian Basin.
Strategic Priorities for the Year Ahead
Sauranbayev told the President that KTZ plans to prioritize infrastructure development, terminal network expansion, and digital solution implementation. These three pillars align with Tokayev's instructions on strengthening Kazakhstan's transit potential and positioning the country as a premier logistics hub across Eurasia.
Tokayev emphasized the importance of intensifying work in these areas, stating that systematic execution of the strategy would yield significant results in consolidating Kazakhstan's role as a continental transit corridor.