LRT Comes to Life in Astana

Light rail transit (LRT) has begun trial operation in the capital, though it is not yet open to passengers, Orda.kz reports.

Testing is underway as specialists inspect the tracks, stations, rolling stock, safety systems, and traffic control.

The LRT will operate unmanned. Special attention will be paid to staff training, emergency drills, and integration with other modes of transport, City Transportation Systems, the company responsible for the project, announced.

The LRT is fully automated and requires no drivers. For now, trains will run at a speed of 10 km/h, with plans to gradually increase speed in the future.

The trial phase will last at least six months, and full operation is not expected until 2026.

The project, plagued by corruption scandals, has taken more than a decade to move forward. What began as the first president’s ambitious vision has since become both a burden on the national budget and a long-standing source of frustration for Kazakhstanis.

Original Author: Zarina Fayzulina