The first passenger train formed from Stadler carriages departed from Nurly Zhol station on November 11. Manufactured in Kazakhstan using technology from a Swiss company, the carriages will run daily as part of train No. 3/4 on the Nurly Zhol–Almaty-2 route.
At the launch event, Kazakhstan’s Vice Minister of Transport, Zhanibek Taizhanov, said renewing the passenger fleet was an important step towards modernising rail services and improving their quality.
The carriages have been adapted to Kazakhstan’s climate and are designed to operate at temperatures from –50 to +45 degrees. Their service life is 40 years.
Sleeper compartments accommodate 40 passengers, while open-plan carriages are designed for 58. Facilities include climate control, individual lighting, 220 V outlets, USB and USB-C ports, Wi-Fi, video surveillance and dedicated luggage areas. The train also provides for passengers with reduced mobility and includes a buffet car.
The rollout is part of the implementation of the Head of State’s instruction to renew the passenger rail fleet. Under the contract, 557 passenger carriages are to be delivered in stages by 2030, followed by servicing. More than 100 Stadler carriages have been accepted to date.
The next train formed from Stadler carriages is due to begin operating on the Nurly Zhol–Semey route on November 13. Tickets are available at bilet.railways.kz and railway ticket offices.
