Almaty, a major city in Central Asia, has restarted light rail construction after many years. As the second modern light rail line in Kazakhstan, the project adopts a full ground laying scheme with lower construction difficulty. Based on the cooperation memorandum signed earlier, domestic rail transit enterprises represented by CRRC have successfully entered the project, continuing the good momentum of China's technology and equipment going global, and helping the local area solve the long-standing problem of urban traffic congestion.

Project Core Overview

The first phase of Almaty Light Rail LRT has a total length of 18.3 kilometers and is a dedicated ground track without elevated structures. It occupies two lanes of the city's main road as exclusive traffic paths. The vehicle is designed to have a maximum speed of 65 to 70 kilometers per hour, limited by an average station spacing of about 700 meters. The actual operating speed is maintained at 30 to 35 kilometers per hour, relying on independent road rights to ensure traffic efficiency. The project is currently in the early preparation stage and requires the relocation of 375 underground pipelines, the dismantling of old tram facilities, and road reconstruction. Some sections of the construction have had temporary impacts on urban traffic, and the overall goal is to open the road by the end of 2027. The delivery schedule will be flexibly adjusted according to the production of vehicles.

Background of Urban Transportation Upgrade

Almaty is the most populous city in Kazakhstan, with a permanent population of approximately 2.37 million as of June 2026. Currently, only one 13.4-kilometer subway line is in operation, and trams were completely shut down as early as 2015. Long term motor vehicle travel has caused serious congestion, and the local government has planned to replace old trams with light rail for many years. This landing project is a key part of the comprehensive transportation transformation, and will also promote subway expansion and BRT rapid transit system construction in the future. According to the long-term plan, the total scale of the city's light rail network will be expanded to 76 kilometers by 2040, and a multi-level public transportation system will be constructed.

Major opportunities for Chinese enterprises to go global

This line is the second light rail in Kazakhstan after Astana Light Rail. The first phase of Astana Light Rail was opened in May this year, and the entire system adopts Chinese standard technology and equipment. Multiple domestic enterprises have jointly completed the landing. Keywords: Almaty Light Rail, Central Asia Infrastructure Cooperation

As early as June 2026, the Almaty municipal authorities signed a memorandum of cooperation with CRRC and local enterprises in Kazakhstan, finalizing the framework for cooperation in the implementation of light rail projects and vehicle supply. Compared to Astana's elevated light rail, Almaty's ground light rail construction is simpler and more replicable, laying a solid foundation for China's rail transit industry chain to deeply cultivate the Central Asian market.Editor/Min Jing