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Transport in Kazakhstan

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For transport in the Soviet Union, see Transport in the Soviet Union.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.

The vast territory of Kazakhstan spans across 2,700,000 km2 (1,000,000 sq mi). The population density is low in Kazakhstan, and the centers of industry and agriculture are spread out and remote from world markets. Therefore, the need for efficient transportation in Kazakhstan is great.

Kazakhstan is committed to regional infrastructure development.[1] According to the Kazakhstan Ambassador to the U.S., Kairat Umarov, Kazakhstan invested $18 billion in construction of airports, highways, and railroads in 2014.[1]

Railways

Main article: Kazakhstan Temir Zholy

Total: Railways provide 68% of all cargo and passenger traffic to over 57% of the country. There are 15,333 km (9,527 mi) in common carrier service, excluding industrial lines.[2]

Broad Gauge: 15,333 km (9,527 mi) of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11+27⁄32 in) gauge, 4,000 km (2,500 mi) electrified, in 2012.[2]

Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) is the national railway company.

As the Kazakhstani rail system was designed during the Soviet era, rail routes were designed ignoring intersoviet borders and to the needs of Soviet planning. This has caused anamolies such as the route from Ural'sk to Aktobe now passes briefly through Russian territory. It also means that routes might not suit modern-day Kazakhstani needs.

The strategy of transport development in Kazakhstan until 2015 is to build 1,600 km (990 mi) of new electrified and 2,700 km (1,700 mi) of existing railway stations.

Maps

Timeline

2008

2007

  • Proposals to eliminate break of gauge at Druzhba-Alashankou by converting the Kazakhstan main line to European gauge.

2006

Towns served by rail

Main article: Railway stations in Kazakhstan

Rapid Transit and Tram Systems

Almaty

There is a small 8.56 km (5.32 mi) metro system in Almaty. A second and third metro lines are planned in the future. The second line would intersect with the first line at Alatau and Zhibek Zholy stations.[5]

In May 2011, the construction of the second phase of the Almaty Metro line 1 began. The general contractor is Almatymetrokurylys. Currently more than 300 m (980 ft) of tunnels on the extension project have been excavated. The extension includes five new stations, and will connect the downtown area of Almaty with Kalkaman in the suburbs. Its length will be 8.62 km (5.36 mi).[6]

The construction is divided into 3 phases. The first phase (the current phase) will be the addition of two stations: Sairan and Moscow, a length of 2.7 km (1.7 mi).[6] For more details see: Almaty Metro.

There is still a tram system which opened in 1937. However, with the metro construction, 8 of the 10 lines were closed and now there are only 2 lines. They total 23 km.[7]

Astana

The Astana Metro system is under construction.

It's been a long time coming and the project was abandoned at one point in 2013,[8] but an agreement was signed on 7 May 2015 for the project to go ahead.[9]

Oskemen

The system was opened between 1959 and 1978, and the tram is a popular form of transport in Oskemen/Ust-Kamenogorsk. At its peak it had 6 routes, but now has 4 routes in operation. It has a fleet of 50 working tram cars.[10]

Pavlodar

There is an 86 km (53 mi) tram network, which began service in 1965 with, As of 2012, 20 regular and 3 special routes. The network has a 60% share of the local public transport market. Its fleet of 115 trams are due to be replaced and in 2012, the city announced plans to purchase 100 new trams.[11]

Temirtau

There are 2 tram lines in this city.[12]

Highways

Al-Farabi street, Almaty, Esentai Tower

Kazakhstan has a road network stretching over 96,000 km (60,000 mi), most of which is in need of modernization and repair.

  • Total: 189,000 kilometres (117,000 mi) (2002)[13]
  • Paved: 108,100 km (67,200 mi) (2002)
  • Unpaved: 80,900 km (50,300 mi) (2002)

It is stated in the CIA Factbook that Kazakhstan has a total road network of 93,612 km (58,168 mi) which is made up of: paved, 84,100 km (52,300 mi) and unpaved, 9,512 km (5,910 mi) (2008).[2]

As of 2011, there were 3,264,400 registered cars.[14]

Five international routes pass through Kazakhstan, totaling 23,000 km (14,000 mi). These highways are:

In 2009, the country began the construction of the "Western Europe - Western China" highway, which will be completed by 2013[clarification needed]. The total length of the road will be 8,445 km (5,247 mi), of which 2,787 km (1,732 mi) will be in Kazakhstan, (Aktobe, Kyzylorda, South Kazakhstan, Zhambyl and Almaty oblasts). The thickness of the asphalt and concrete pavement will be 80 cm (31 in), and the expected lifespan of the highway will be 25 years, without a major overhaul, and the maximum speed limit 120 km/h (75 mph). The project includes a number of bridges over rivers, road maintenance facilities, bus stop areas, avtopavilony, cattle trails, and electronic signage. Simultaneously with the construction of this highway, roads will be repaired and built in areas along its route.[15][16][17]

Motorways

The motorway network in Kazakhstan is rather underdeveloped, mainly due to the low population density in the country, which doesn't require wider roads on long distances. The following are the only existing multi-lane, double carriage roads in Kazakhstan:

  • A1 - Runs from Astana to Shchuchinsk. It further continues as the A1 two-lane highway to Kokshetau. Motorway length: 250 km (160 mi).
  • A2 - Runs from Almaty to a point past Uzynagash. It further continues as the A2 two-lane highway to Shymkent. Motorway length: 58 km (36 mi).
  • A2 - Other four-lane portion runs from Shymkent to Zhibek Zholy, on the border with Uzbekistan. Length: 100 km (62 mi).
  • A3 - Runs from Almaty to Kapshagay. It further continues as the A3 two-lane highway to Oskemen. Motorway length: 82 km (51 mi).

Total: 490 km

Pipelines

Condensate, 658 km (409 mi); gas, 12,317 km (7,653 mi); oil, 11,201 km (6,960 mi); refined products, 1,095 km (680 mi); water, 1,465 km (910 mi) (2010)[2]

Waterways and Waterborne Transportation

There are 4,000 km (2,500 mi) of waterways on the Syrdariya (Syr Darya), 80%, and Ertis (Irtysh) rivers, (2010)[2]

Ports and harbors

Caspian Sea

  • Aqtau (Shevchenko) - railhead 1,524 mm (5 ft)
  • Atyrau (Gur'yev) - railhead 1,524 mm

On rivers

Merchant Marine

Total: 11 vessels By type: cargo 1, petroleum tanker 8, refrigerated cargo 1, specialized tanker 1

Foreign-owned: 3 (Austria 1, Ireland 1, Turkey 1), 2010[2]

Airports

Kazakhstan has a total of 97 airports (2012)[2]However, it is quoted as having a total of 449 airports in (2001)[13]

The large area of the country and the associated long distances makes air travel a very important component in domestic travel.

Airports - with paved runways

total: 64[2]

  • over 3,047 metres (9,997 ft): 10
  • 2,438–3,047 metres (7,999–9,997 ft): 25
  • 1,524–2,437 metres (5,000–7,995 ft): 16
  • 914–1,523 metres (2,999–4,997 ft): 5
  • under 914 metres (2,999 ft): 8 (2012)
See also: Template:Airports in Kazakhstan

Airports - with unpaved runways

total: 33[2]

  • over 3,047 metres (9,997 ft): 5
  • 2,438–3,047 metres (7,999–9,997 ft): 7
  • 1,524–2,437 metres (5,000–7,995 ft): 3
  • 914–1,523 metres (2,999–4,997 ft): 5
  • under 914 metres (2,999 ft): 13 (2012)

Heliports

Total: 3 (2012)[2]

Airlines

Air Astana - most popular Kazakhstani Air operator

Main article: Air Astana

Air Astana (Эйр Астана) is the principal airline and the flag carrier of the Republic of Kazakhstan, based in Almaty, Kazakhstan.[18] It operates scheduled domestic and international services on 56 routes from its main hub, Almaty International Airport, and from its 2 secondary hubs, Astana International Airport and Atyrau Airport. It is a joint venture between Kazakhstan’s sovereign wealth fund Samruk-Kazyna (51%), and BAE Systems PLC (49%). It was incorporated in October 2001, and started commercial flights on 15 May 2002. At the 2012 World Airline Awards held at Farnborough Airshow in the UK, Air Astana was named the Best Airline in Central Asia & India.[19]

Qazaq Air - New airline Qazaq Air is a new airline in Kazakhstan.

Destinations

Air Astana operates the following destinations (as of April 2009):

Air Astana Boeing 757 aircraft at Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, Thailand
Air Astana Airbus-320 aircraft at Aktau Airport

Domestic (Kazakhstan)

Asia

Europe

The New Silk Road

Kazakhstan is actively involved in the New Silk Road initiative, which is an infrastructure project expected to significantly accelerate and reduce the cost of goods delivery from China to Europe through Central Asia.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "A Conversation with H.E. Kairat Umarov, Ambassador of Kazakhstan" (PDF). http://www.cftni.org/. {{cite web}}: External link in |website= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j CIA: The World Factbook
  3. ^ ENRC to develop and operate the Zhetigen-Khorgos railway line between Kazakhstan and China | International Mining
  4. ^ KAZAKHSTAN - Temir Zholy
  5. ^ urbanrail.net
  6. ^ a b Алматыметро :: Главная страница
  7. ^ Subways and Trams In Kazakstan: Almaty's Metro
  8. ^ http://en.tengrinews.kz/industry_infrastructure/No-Light-Rail-Transport-for-Astana-24346/
  9. ^ http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/news/asia/single-view/view/astana-light-rail-framework-agreement-signed.html
  10. ^ Усть-Каменогорский трамвай :: Введение
  11. ^ Pavlodar
  12. ^ temirtau.kz | главный сайт Темиртау
  13. ^ a b Transportation - Kazakhstan - infrastructure
  14. ^ http://www.kaz-news.kz/2011/07/30/v-kazahstane-rezko-uvelichilos-kolichestvo-avtomobiley.html
  15. ^ ЗАПАДНАЯ ЕВРОППА И ЗАПАДНЫЙ КИТАЙ ВСТРЕЧАЮТСЯ НА ЗЕМЛЕ СЫРА - 1 Января 2011 - ОФИЦИАЛЬНЫЙ САЙТ ГАЗЕТЫ "КЫЗЫЛОРДИНСКИЕ ВЕСТИ"
  16. ^ http://kazpravda.kz/c/1279227092
  17. ^ Западная Европа - Западный Китай Международный Транзитный коридор
  18. ^ "Head Office." Air Astana. Retrieved on 21 December 2010. "Registered office 4A, Zakarpatskaya Street, Almaty, 050039, Kazakhstan"
  19. ^ "Air Astana named Best Airline in Central Asia & India". The Gazette of Central Asia. Satrapia. 17 July 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
  20. ^ "Kazakhstan turns geography to advantage as China builds a "New Silk Road"". www.economist.com.

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.

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