Tengrinews.kz — Restoration work continues on Astana’s old railway station. In place of the ruins that could still be seen here last year, the outlines of a new yet painfully familiar building are beginning to appear. Tengrinews.kz correspondents visited the construction site to see what is happening there.
The first thing that catches the eye is that the main “tower” is in place.
Its new look resembles a building long familiar to many residents and visitors of Astana.
However, judging by appearances, the design of the renovated station will be more modern.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
The large clock face that adorned the old building is promised to be reinstalled in its former place, though the clock's design will also undergo changes.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
According to the project permit, the old station building in Astana was last renovated more than 20 years ago.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
The works are promised to be completed within this year.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
Meanwhile, construction is in full swing. According to the latest data from the Ministry of Transport, the work is 41 percent complete.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
Despite the renovations, trains continue to depart from the Astana-1 station. Passenger traffic is temporarily routed through the older station building, constructed back in the 1960s.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
Contractors have even put up a banner directing everyone to the yellow-and-white building—a specimen of Soviet monumental classicism.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
According to official data, the total area of the station under restoration is 8,409 square meters.
"At this stage, the main work on the building's frame and roofing has been completed. Internal and external finishing, installation of utility networks, power supply, heating, ventilation, water supply, and sewerage systems are ongoing. Additionally, construction of the passenger platform, the concourse passage, and landscaping of the surrounding area is underway," the Ministry of Transport reported.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
It appears that once the work is finished, passengers will be able to move between the old and new buildings via a special walkway.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
Whether this "legend" will also be updated remains unknown.
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
Legendary railway station
The old railway station was built back in the 1960s. At the time, it was considered the largest in all of Kazakhstan. In the 1990s, a new building was constructed there. Both buildings operated throughout these years, but the main passenger flow passed through the more modern building, which had escalators and elevators allowing passengers to reach the required platform.
Until 2017, Astana-1 was the only railway station in the city, until Astana Nurly Zhol opened.
The Astana-1 railway station complex includes buildings constructed in 1990 and 1961. Its total area is 11,174 square meters. The station is equipped with three elevators and 10 escalators and has three receiving and departure tracks. Astana-1 serves 26 pairs of trains daily, with passenger traffic exceeding 10,000 people.
In September last year, ruins appeared at the site of the familiar railway station. Only the main tower survived, though it was left without cladding. The rest of the building literally lost its walls.
The national carrier Kazakhstan Temir Zholy stated that the station had not been renovated for many years, making a capital reconstruction long overdue.