Kazakhstan begins construction of a third railway link with China

The project is expected to increase the annual capacity from the current 28 million tonnes to around 48 million tonnes

The construction of a double-track railway is underway to enhance freight capacity between Kazakhstan and China.

Once completed in 2027, the project is expected to increase the annual capacity from the current 28 million tonnes to around 48 million tonnes, according to projections. The infrastructure initiative is aimed at easing the congestion on existing border crossings between the two countries.

The Kazakh government is said to be actively engaged in a large-scale project involving the construction of approximately 1,300km of new railway lines. The addition of this double-track railway is a pivotal component of this broader initiative.

Kazakhstan Prime Minister Alikhan Smailov said at the event marking the start of construction, “Over the past five years, the volume of transit container traffic has increased 3.2 times.”

Smailov added, “Existing transit corridors are expanding, and new transit corridors are being opened. The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route [TITR, or Middle Corridor], the North-South and the Southern Corridors have become particularly relevant.”