Astana’s LRT to be fully operational only in 2026

Tengrinews.kz - Astana Akim (mayor) Zhenis Kassymbek has shared details on when the city’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) will open and how much a ride will cost.

At a meeting with residents, Kassymbek was asked whether the akimat (local administration) had postponed the start of LRT’s test runs.

“Nothing has changed — we plan to launch the first trains in test mode this September. After the tests, it will be clear exactly when the system will be fully put into operation. Usually, test runs last from three to six months,” the mayor said.

Tengrinews.kz asked Kassymbek whether this meant the LRT would launch at the beginning of 2026.

“We have always mentioned these timeframes,” he replied.

According to him, the fare could be set at 200 tenge per trip, but the final rate will be announced later.

“The project envisions a fare of up to 200 tenge per trip. The exact price will be determined by the end of this year,” Kassymbek noted.

For reference, in April this year, the mayor had stated that the cost of one LRT ride could range from 100 to 200 tenge.

Read also: A look inside Astana’s LRT train cars