A major infrastructure project to construct double tracks along the 836 km Dostyk–Moyynty railway section will increase the line’s capacity from 12 to 60 train pairs per day, said Vadim Kopylov, Director of the Integrated Planning Directorate at Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ), reports Kazinform.
Despite ongoing construction, cargo shipments from China reached a record 32 million tonnes in 2024—4.5 times higher than a decade ago. Container transit has also grown steadily: the China–EU–China route has expanded 12-fold over the past ten years, while the Trans-Caspian route increased 21-fold.
“With the introduction of the second tracks on Dostyk–Moyynty, shipments from China could reach 35 million tonnes in 2025. This includes exports of ore, metals, and food products, as well as transit cargo along East–West and East–Central Asia routes,” Kopylov noted.
Earlier reports indicated that KTZ plans to retire locomotives dating back to the 1970s.
Additionally, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev emphasized in his address to the nation the need to modernize Kazakhstan’s transport infrastructure using digital technologies and artificial intelligence.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
September 25, 2025