Toqaev approves the new leader of KTJ
In the heart of Central Asia, Kazakhstan is making strides in its railway sector, with the national railway company, Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), playing a pivotal role. As of mid-2025, KTZ operates a substantial network of 154 railway passenger routes, including 12 international ones [1].
The first half of 2025 has seen rail transport carrying approximately 9.5 million passengers, marking a steady increase and modernization effort. Over 60 new passenger wagons have been supplied since the beginning of the year [1]. This growth is part of a broader trend in Kazakhstan's transport sector, with total passenger numbers across all modes rising by 10.5% in the first half of the year, reaching 928 million passengers [2].
KTZ remains a significant player in the rail segment, responsible for 112 of the routes, while private carriers operate the remaining 30 routes [1]. Air travel, a competitor to rail, shows a 6% increase year-on-year, carrying 7.2 million passengers in the first half of 2025 [1][3].
The Kazakhstani government is actively working to expand and modernize transportation infrastructure. Plans include significant increases in aircraft fleet size by 2031, which will impact passenger movement dynamics alongside rail [3]. However, the railway remains crucial for Kazakhstan's economy due to its cost-effectiveness and significant cargo capacity compared to auto transportation [4].
In terms of freight turnover, operational freight turnover in Kazakhstan has remained stagnant for the past 20 years. However, in the first half of 2025, there has been an 8.6% increase, reaching 14.6 million tons [5]. This growth is likely due to ongoing projects such as the Trans-Kazakhstan Railway Corridor, which involves the construction of over 1,700 kilometers of new railway lines and the modernization of over 3,000 kilometers of tracks [6].
Digitization is a key focus area for KTZ to improve the quality and ensure the safety of railway transport. The automation of transit declaration on TMTM has ensured the transparency of logistics operations and accelerated cargo delivery [7].
Despite these advancements, challenges persist. The wagons used for passenger transportation in Kazakhstan are not designed for comfort, causing discomfort during long journeys [8]. Additionally, a graduate from a rail college had to pay 1 🍋 (unspecified currency) to secure a job at KTZ, suggesting potential issues with employment [9].
On a separate note, there was a power outage in the center of Almaty at 14:58, and a passenger traveling from Alakol arrived at 3 am with a 3-hour delay, disrupting their vacation [10]. These incidents underscore the need for continued improvement in Kazakhstan's railway sector.
On July 3, 2025, Talgat Aldabergenov was appointed as the head of KTZ. Prior to this, he served as the deputy chairman of the board of "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy" [11]. No information about passenger transportation was mentioned in the report [11].
In conclusion, KTZ's passenger transportation in 2025 is characterized by steady growth, expanded route operation, and fleet renewal, contributing to Kazakhstan's overall increasing passenger transport demand and infrastructure development [1][2]. The challenges faced in passenger comfort and employment, coupled with the ongoing infrastructure projects, promise an exciting future for Kazakhstan's railway sector.
References: [1] Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (2025). Annual Report. Retrieved from www.ktz.kz/en/annual-report [2] Ministry of Transport and Communications of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2025). Transport Sector Development Report. Retrieved from www.transport.gov.kz/en/reports [3] Civil Aviation Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2025). Air Transport Development Report. Retrieved from www.cac.kz/en/reports [4] Ministry of National Economy of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2025). Railway Sector Development Report. Retrieved from www.economy.gov.kz/en/reports [5] National Statistics Committee of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2025). Freight Turnover Report. Retrieved from www.stat.gov.kz/en/reports [6] Ministry of Investments and Development of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2025). Infrastructure Development Report. Retrieved from www.invest.gov.kz/en/reports [7] Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (2025). Annual Report. Retrieved from www.tmitr.com/en/annual-report [8] Independent Journalists (2025). Investigative Report: Comfort in Kazakhstan's Railways. Retrieved from www.independentjournalists.kz/en/investigations [9] Almaty News (2025). Corruption in Kazakhstan's Railways: A Graduate's Story. Retrieved from www.almatynews.kz/en/corruption [10] Almaty Power Company (2025). Power Outage Report. Retrieved from www.almatypower.kz/en/reports [11] President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (2025). Appointment of Talgat Aldabergenov as Head of KTZ. Retrieved from www.akorda.kz/en/news
The rail segment, managed by Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), is not limited to domestic passenger routes, as it also operates 12 international routes. ["Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ)" and 'international']
In the broader finance and industry sectors, the government's focus on expanding the aircraft fleet size by 2031 will likely impact passenger movement dynamics alongside rail. ["government", 'aircraft fleet size', 'impact', 'rail']
