The international transportation route across the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan has seen a continuous increase in freight volume in recent years. According to data from Kazakhstan National Railway Company, the container transportation volume through this route will increase by over 60% year-on-year in 2025, making it a key alternative channel connecting China and Europe. In this context, as the core infrastructure project of the route, the Moint Kizilzar railway has been fully accelerated and is planned to be put into operation within the year.

The new 300 kilometer line will shorten 149 kilometers

The railway has a total length of over 300 kilometers, passing through Karaganda Oblast and Ultau Oblast, connecting Moint Station and Kizilzar Station. After completion, the transportation distance of goods will be shortened by 149 kilometers, effectively alleviating the transportation pressure of the Moint Zark section, greatly improving the efficiency of container train operation, and enhancing Kazakhstan's export and transit transportation capacity.

At present, the project is progressing smoothly: over 90% of the main civil engineering has been completed, 40% of the track laying and sleeper rail installation have been completed, and the progress of supporting projects such as bridges, culverts, road intersections, and livestock passages has exceeded 65%. More than ten contracting units participated in the construction, implementing round the clock continuous construction. More than 1700 professional and technical personnel and over 670 sets of engineering machinery and equipment were deployed on site, and the project was officially put into operation within the year as planned. Keywords: Central Asian news, railway infrastructure, logistics

Strategic pivot of the middle corridor

The international transportation routes across the Caspian Sea have significantly improved their strategic position since the Russia-Ukraine conflict in 2022, becoming an important logistics channel to bypass Russia. Kazakhstan is accelerating the improvement of its domestic railway network. After the line is put into operation, it will further open up the transportation bottleneck from the east coast of the Caspian Sea to the hinterland of Central Asia, providing more route options for China Europe freight trains and striving for a larger share of transit transportation for Kazakhstan.Editor/Cheng Liting