Editing Transport in Kazakhstan (section)

== Railways ==
{{main|Kazakhstan Temir Zholy}}

Railways provide 68% of all cargo and passenger traffic to over 57% of the country. There are {{convert|15,333|km|mi|abbr=on}} in common carrier service, excluding industrial lines.<ref name=ciafactbook>{{cite web|url=https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/kazakhstan/|title=The World Factbook — Central Intelligence Agency|website=www.cia.gov|access-date=25 September 2017}}</ref> All railway lines in Kazakhstan are built in {{Track gauge|1520mm|lk=on}} gauge, of which {{convert|4,000|km|mi|abbr=on}} is electrified (2012).<ref name="ciafactbook" />

[[Kazakhstan Temir Zholy]] (KTZ) is the national railway company. KTZ cooperates with French loco manufacturer [[Alstom]] in developing Kazakhstan's railway infrastructure. Alstom has more than 600 staff and two joint ventures with KTZ and its subsidiary in Kazakhstan.<ref>{{cite web|title=Loco manufacturer obtains first IRIS certification in Kazakhstan|url=http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/business/single-view/view/loco-manufacturer-obtains-first-iris-certification-in-kazakhstan.html|website=www.railwaygazette.com}}</ref> In July 2017, Alstom opened its first locomotive repairing center in Kazakhstan. It is the only repairing center in Central Asia and the Caucasus.<ref>{{cite web|title=Alstom inaugurated first locomotive repairing centre in Kazakhstan|url=http://www.raillynews.com/2017/alstom-inaugurated-first-locomotive-repairing-centre-kazakhstan/|website=www.raillynews.com}}</ref>

As the Kazakhstani rail system was designed during the [[Soviet Union|Soviet]] era, rail routes were designed ignoring inter-Soviet borders, based on the needs of Soviet planning. This has caused anomalies, such as the route from [[Oral, Kazakhstan|Oral]] to [[Aktobe]] passing briefly through Russian territory. It also means that routes might not suit modern-day Kazakhstani needs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.policyforum.net/chinas-one-track-mind-kazakhstan/|title=China's one-track mind in Kazakhstan|date=2018-02-13|website=Policy Forum|access-date=2019-02-19}}</ref>{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

Kazakhstan's developed railway system promotes international and regional trade connecting Asia and Europe. In 2019, the transit of goods through Kazakhstan increased 23% to 664,000 containers.<ref name="Cargo2019">{{cite web |title=Transit of goods through Kazakhstan grew 23 percent in 2019 |url=https://astanatimes.com/2020/01/transit-of-goods-through-kazakhstan-grew-23-percent-in-2019/ |website=The Astana Times|date=23 January 2020 }}</ref>

=== Railway links with adjacent countries ===

* {{flagicon|Russia}} [[Transport in Russia#Rail transport|Russia]] - same gauge (former Soviet Union railway system)
* {{flagicon|China}} [[Transport in the People's Republic of China#Rail|China]] - [[break of gauge]] {{Track gauge|1520mm}}/{{Track gauge|sg|lk=on}}; 
** Border station at [[Dostyk|Druzhba]], KZ - [[Alashankou]], CN, connection between the [[Turkestan–Siberia Railway]] and the [[Northern Xinjiang Railway]] (no electrification on them).
** Another connection exist from [[Altynkol railway station]] near [[Khorgas]] to the [[Jinghe–Yining–Khorgos Railway]] towards [[Ürümqi]].
* {{flagicon|Kyrgyzstan}} [[Transport in Kyrgyzstan#Railways|Kyrgyzstan]] - same gauge (former Soviet Union railway system)
* {{flagicon|Uzbekistan}} [[Transport in Uzbekistan#Railways|Uzbekistan]] - same gauge (former Soviet Union railway system)
* {{flagicon|Turkmenistan}} [[Railways in Turkmenistan|Turkmenistan]] - same gauge (former Soviet Union railway system) (railway link opened in 2013, presently for freight)
* [[Caspian Sea]] - [[wikt: railhead|railhead]] {{Track gauge|1520mm|disp=1}}

The strategy of transport development in Kazakhstan until 2015 is to build {{convert|1600|km|mi|abbr=on}} of new electrified and {{convert|2700|km|mi|abbr=on}} of existing railway stations.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

In 2006, a standard gauge rail link from [[China]] to [[Europe]] was proposed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedworld-usa.com/reports/kazakhstan/temir.asp|title=KAZAKHSTAN - Temir Zholy<!-- Bot generated title -->|access-date=25 September 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120160650/http://www.unitedworld-usa.com/reports/kazakhstan/temir.asp|archive-date=20 November 2008}}</ref>

In 2007, it was proposed to eliminate break of gauge at Druzhba-Alashankou by converting the Kazakhstan main line to European gauge.{{citation needed|date=September 2018}}

In 2008, [[BOOT]] line from [[Zhetigen]] to [[Khorgos]] on the China border.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.im-mining.com/2008/05/20/enrc-to-develop-and-operate-the-zhetigen-khorgos-railway-line-between-kazakhstan-and-china/|title=ENRC to develop and operate the Zhetigen-Khorgos railway line between Kazakhstan and China - International Mining|date=20 May 2008|access-date=25 September 2017}}</ref> The line would branch off the existing railway near [[Shaquanzi]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-08-05 |title=Kazakhstan Begins Zhetigen-Korgas Line Construction |url=https://www.railway-technology.com/uncategorised/news61295-html/ |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=Railway Technology |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== Maps ===
* [https://www.un.org/Depts/Cartographic/map/profile/kazakhst.pdf UN Map]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927183534/http://wwwnotes.reliefweb.int/w/fullMaps_Sa.nsf/luFullMap/D27D9AFFF5B6812A85256A23006DE977/$File/kazak.pdf?OpenElement reliefweb map]

=== Towns served by rail ===

{{main|Railway stations in Kazakhstan}}