Product Launches
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy Starts Daily Stadler Coach Service Between Astana and Almaty
By News Desk ·
Key takeaways
- The first train with locally manufactured Stadler coaches left Astana's Nurly Zhol station on November 11 and runs daily as train No. 3/4 to Almaty-2.
- Kazakhstan Temir Zholy has accepted more than 100 coaches under a contract for 557 coaches by 2030.
- The coaches are built for temperatures from minus 50 to plus 45 degrees Celsius and have a 40-year expected service life.
- A second Stadler-equipped train is scheduled to enter service on the Nurly Zhol-Semei route on November 13.
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy launched its first passenger train with locally manufactured Stadler coaches on the Astana-Almaty route on November 11, with more than 100 coaches accepted under a contract for 557 by 2030. The Astana Times reported the departure from Astana's Nurly Zhol railway station.
KTZ's Daily Stadler Service to Almaty
The train runs daily as passenger train No. 3/4 on the Nurly Zhol-Almaty-2 route, leaving Astana at 1:10 p.m. and arriving in Almaty at 8:30 a.m. the following day. The coaches are manufactured in Kazakhstan using Stadler Rail's Swiss technology and are designed to operate in temperatures from minus 50 to plus 45 degrees Celsius, with an expected service life of 40 years.
Compartment coaches accommodate 40 passengers, while open-plan sleeping coaches seat 58. The facilities include climate control, individual lighting, 220-volt power outlets, USB and USB-C ports, Wi-Fi, video surveillance and dedicated luggage areas, with special arrangements for passengers with reduced mobility. Each train includes a buffet coach.
Stefan Giese, chief director for maintenance and repair, told the Astana Times that each compartment has its own temperature control. "They have individual temperature control in each compartment, allowing passengers to adjust the temperature by two degrees up or down. This makes the journey really comfortable," he said. Giese added that the coaches follow European design standards adapted to Kazakhstan's operating environment and will gradually be deployed on major railway routes across the country.
Stadler is investing over KZT 14 billion to expand its Astana production site in 2026, adding aluminum car body welding and painting workshops, according to The future of trading. The expansion will create 100 new jobs and increase manufacturing capacity for domestic and international projects.
KTZ's Rail Network and Financing Records
Kazakhstan Temir Zholy runs a 21,000-kilometer network connecting China, Central Asia, Russia, Europe and the Caucasus, according to akta.pro company records. The same records list a $1.6 billion financing agreement with Citibank and the US Export-Import Bank for a locomotive fleet upgrade, and a November 2025 debt-funded round of $1.6 billion led by the Export-Import Bank of the United States.
Earlier KTZ Milestones Before the Launch
KTZ passed the Hong Kong Stock Exchange mainboard listing hearing, with CICC as exclusive sponsor, Moomoo reported in November 2026. In October 2026, the EBRD agreed to invest up to US$125 million in a Eurobond issue by KTZ that raised up to US$1 billion, with the funds earmarked for modernizing passenger stations, improving safety and upgrading infrastructure along the Trans-Caspian Corridor. Trend reported in September 2026 that KTZ's KedenTransService planned to transport 163,000 tons of steel pipes from China in September-October 2026 via rail and road.
Next Stadler Train on the Semei Route
The next Stadler-equipped train is scheduled to enter service on the Nurly Zhol-Semei route on November 13. Tickets are available through the national railway ticketing website, bilet.railways.kz, and at railway ticket offices.