Kazakhstan launches construction of Astana-Almaty high-speed railway

Photo courtesy of railways.kz

Construction of a high-speed Astana-Almaty railroad has started in Kazakhstan, Tengrinews.kz reports citing Kazakhstan Transport and Communications Minister Askar Zhumagaliyev.“Construction of the high-speed Astana-Almaty railroad has started this year,” Zhumagaliyev said in the Majilis (lower chamber of the parliament).This railroad line will decrease the traveling time between the two cities from 12 to 5 hours.The new route will be around 1,011 km long, 400km shorter than the existing one.Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev made an instruction to build this high-speed railroad branch in the beginning of 2013. He said that the line had to be constructed in 5-6 years.By Renat Tashkinbayev