#Kazakhstan measures about 1,820 miles (2,930 kilometers) east to west and 960 miles north to south. Given that the country is land-locked, and with primarily desert and mountainous terrain, railways form a critical part of Kazakhstan’s transportation infrastructure.

Kazakhstan strategically positions itself as a central transit point along the Middle Corridor, a trade route linking China to Europe. With changing geopolitics and logistics demands, upgrading and expanding this network has become a pressing priority to ensure the country's connectivity and economic growth. With 21,000 km of existing railways, the country is set to expand its network significantly, aiming to build over 5,000 km of new lines by 2030. Priority projects include upgrading the Dostyk-Moyinty section, creating an Almaty rail bypass and launching the Darbaza-Maktaaral and Bakhty-Ayagoz lines.

Looking ahead to 2025, the passenger rail market is expected to benefit from both public investment and strategic partnerships integrating with regional rail networks, including links to Uzbekistan, China and Russia. Connecting remote regions across Kazakhstan’s vast territory, passenger transport remains a vital service.

The rail freight industry carries over 70% of the country’s freight and playing a vital role in connecting Central Asia to Europe. The transportation intensity—a key indicator reflecting the volume of freight movement relative to economic output—is projected to reach 1.21 ton-kilometres per unit of GDP (TKM/GDP), highlighting the critical role of logistics in driving national economic activity. Within this landscape, the rail market is set to play a dominant role, with the volume of goods transported by rail projected to reach 348.05 billion TKM. This underscores Kazakhstan’s position as a key transit and freight hub in the Eurasian region.

With over 9 million passengers relying on rail travel annually in Kazakhstan, the commitment to bolstering its rail infrastructure underscores its unwavering dedication to sustainable development and economic prosperity. Join us at the Kazakh RailLogix 2026 scheduled to be held on 22^nd & 23^rd June at InterContinental Almaty – Kazakhstan to explore the vast potential and emerging opportunities in this strategically located and rapidly evolving market.