China to Assist Astana Build LRT Network

The capital’s LRT company signed an agreement on May 7 with Chinese consortium China Railway International Group and Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co. to establish a new light railway transportation system in Astana, Astana’s city administration announced.
Akim (Mayor) of Astana Adilbek Dzhaksybekov and Chairman of Astana LRT Talgat Ardan took part in the signing from the Kazakh side while Ambassador of China to Kazakhstan Zhang Hanhui, Chairman of Beijing State-Owned Assets Management Co. Li Aiqing and Director General of China Railway International Group Limited Zheng Shiping participated from the Chinese side.

According to Dzhaksybekov, the implementation of light rail will be a fundamental element of the new transport system of the young capital: “This project is a priority not only for Astana, but for the whole country. The signing of the framework agreement will allow the start of the practical implementation of the project and will allow the joint efforts to successfully be implemented in Astana,” he stressed in his remarks at the signing.

The new light railway system will provide the citizens with the necessary mobility, comfort and security. The whole project will span 22.4 kilometres, 18 stations and one depot from the Astana International Airport to the city. The trains will travel at a top speed of 40 kilometres an hour and the transportation capacity will reach 83,000 persons a day. The estimated launch is scheduled prior to the opening of EXPO 2017.