Kazakhstan has kicked off the construction of a new 272-kilometre-long railway line to China. The line will link Ayagoz in eastern Kazakhstan and Bakhty, which is located on the border next to China’s Altay region. Upon the line’s completion in 2027, a new border crossing will open between the two countries connecting Bakhty and Chuguchak.
Kazakh authorities claim that the new railway line will increase the throughput capacity between Kazakhstan and China by 20 million tons, from 28 million tons to 48. Most importantly, adding another cross-border line will help alleviate the heavily congested border crossings and rail corridors passing through southern Kazakhstan, namely via Dostyk and Almaty.
Ayagoz-Bakhty line construction. Image: © Kazakhstan Temir Zholy.
Railway fever
In 2022, transported volumes via the Central Asian country amounted to 245 million tons/kilometres, breaking every record until then. Volumes are steadily high this year, too; however, increased traffic is also a cause of trouble, considering the continuous congestion noted between Kazakhstan and China.
Kazakhstan is taking several different actions to tackle the situation proactively. Apart from the new Ayagoz-Bakhty line accompanied by a new border crossing, the Central Asian country recently started constructing another 80-kilometre-long line running north of Almaty between Zhetygen and Kazybek Beka. It will function as a bypass to the congested hub, reduce cargo load by 40 per cent and decrease the cargo delivery time to 24 hours.
Thes is not the only projects aiming at enhancing the trade relationship between the two countries. When it comes to the Almaty area, KTZ is collaborating with China’s Xi’an Dry Port to build a new rail logistics terminal to serve e-commerce volumes. In addition, a new consolidation centre was set up in the city by Chinese company Shandong Hi-Speed Group, the “Qilu” China Europe Express operator, and Atasu Group, which owns the Almaty rail terminal. Moreover, the Moyynty-Dostyk line, leading from Kazakhstan into China via Alashankou, is currently being doubled and should be ready by 2025.