In the early morning, a train coming from the depths of the grassland slowly stopped at a newly renovated small station in Kazakhstan. Passengers step out of the carriage, onto the flat and spacious platform, and enter the bright and spacious waiting hall. A few months ago, this place was still a different scene - the station building was old and the facilities were mottled, and passengers were queuing up in the cold wind to wait for trains. Now, all of this has become the past.

This change is happening simultaneously in all 17 provinces of Kazakhstan. Under President Tokayev's directive to improve railway passenger stations and related infrastructure, a renovation plan covering 124 railway passenger stations across the country is accelerating.

72 stations have been renovated

As of August 20, 2026, 72 railway passenger stations across the country have completed renovation. This number means that more than half of the overall plan's goals have been achieved.

Transformation is not simply about repairing and patching. The project covers the renovation of the station building, the updating of the engineering pipeline network, the renovation of the platform and station area, the expansion of the waiting hall, and the installation of modern safety systems, elevators, and lifting equipment. The accessibility facilities have also been comprehensively improved. For some severely aging stations, the original buildings have been completely demolished and a modern passenger service complex has been built on the original site.

According to the schedule, 34 stations will be put into use by the end of August, and another 15 will be renovated by the end of September. By the end of the third quarter of this year, the cumulative number of completed buildings will reach 121.

Large scale hub ends in 2027

Among the 124 stations, the renovation projects of Astana, Almaty, and Turkestan, three large railway passenger stations, are the most unique. The buildings of these three stations themselves have historical and architectural value, so the renovation project has been separately scheduled and planned to be completed by 2027. During the construction process, the original style of the buildings will be strictly preserved.

The remaining 121 stations are planned to be completed by 2026. This means that within the next two years, Kazakhstan's railway passenger transport network will undergo a comprehensive facelift.

Railway travel brings new experiences

The government stated that the core goal of this large-scale renovation is to better adapt railway infrastructure to the increasing passenger flow pressure, while improving the quality of passenger services in large railway hubs and various regions.

The relevant measures will directly improve the reliability of railway infrastructure, enhance the overall service level, and create a more comfortable travel environment for passengers. With the continuous development of the railway passenger transport system and the deepening of station renovation, it is expected that the number of railway passengers will further increase in the future. This also means that the operational pressure faced by transportation hubs will continue to increase, and continuously improving service capabilities according to modern standards has become a long-term task.keywords:Engineering infrastructure

From grassland stations to the capital hub, Kazakhstan's railway passenger transport network is undergoing a transformative upgrade. For every passenger embarking on a journey, this section of railway connects not only the destination, but also a constantly improving travel experience.Editor/Yang Meiling