Workers from Kazakhstan's Altynkol and Dostyk border stations were honored in the capital this week after completing their annual cargo transfer plan with China nearly nine weeks ahead of schedule. Representatives of the railway teams were invited to Astana for a ceremony recognizing their role in achieving record freight volumes along the Trans-Eurasian corridor.
The managing director for production processes at NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC, Bauyrzhan Urynbassarov, convened the meeting alongside senior officials from KTZ-Freight Transportation LLP and the chairman of the KTZ-Freight Transportation trade union branch, Yermek Tulegenov. Dispatchers, receivers, cashiers, train preparers and other station personnel whose shifts drove the exceptional performance attended the gathering.
Station employees received briefings on freight transportation results for 2023 and the development outlook for interstate connecting points. The gathering heard that coordinated efforts between Kazakh and Chinese railway workers enabled fulfillment of the annual plan in less than 11 months—approximately nine weeks before the year-end target.
Rail transport between China and Kazakhstan is expected to reach more than 28 million tons by the close of 2023, a 22% increase compared to the previous year. The figure underscores the growing significance of overland trade routes connecting the world's second-largest economy with Central Asia and beyond.
To sustain and expand this export and transit capacity, KTZ is pursuing systematic infrastructure upgrades at border crossings. The Dostyk station is slated for modernization as part of the second Dostyk-Moiynty track construction project—a development that will double the station's throughput capacity. Meanwhile, the Altynkol transit corridor expansion will proceed in two phases: first, construction of the Zhetygen–Kazybek Bek railway line bypassing Almaty station, followed by laying second tracks on the Altynkol–Zhetygen segment.
In December, a pilot initiative for automated registration and electronic issuance of transit declarations entered service. KTZ is implementing the project jointly with the State Revenue Committee of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Finance. The first phase successfully introduced electronic goods declaration for shipments transiting the Altynkol–Saryagash route.
Attendees at the ceremony were presented with Certificates of Honor from KTZ management. Participants described the gathering as energizing for future operational achievements. The program included tours of KTZ production facilities, the central railway transport museum, and key Astana landmarks.