Prices of funicular rides to Kok Tobe in Almaty have gone up

Prices of funicular rides to Kok Tobe in Almaty have gone up, Nelly Sherbakova, art director of the park, told Tengrinews.kz. Starting from April 1, 2012, return ticket costs 2000 tenge ($14). According to the art director, the rise of prices is related to an increase in electric power tarries and maintenance expenses. However, representatives of the park have declined to explain how the price is made up or how how much power one funicular consumes per month, calling the information a commercial secret. Today there are three ways to get to Kok Tobe park: by funicular (1000 tenge is one direction ($7)), by bus (300 tenge ($2)), or on foot (100 tenge (70 cents)). But art director points out that if personnel of the park sees that you are a sportsman training or just want to spend some time jogging along the road they don't charge the fare. Bicycle riders are also admitted free of charge. One way passenger fare on the ropeway was 300 tenge ($2) in 2005 and 2006, 500 tenge ($3,5) between 2006 and 2008, 800 tenge ($5,5) between 2008 and 2011 and 1000 tenge ($7) in 2012. Electric power tariffs were increased 7% on April 1 in Almaty. Average cost for one kilowatt per hour is 13,2 tenge ($0,09) including VAT. According to Michail Gamburger, General Director of Almaty Energosbit (Almaty electric power distributor), the rise in prices is caused by 7,2% growth of transfer prices at power producing enterprises.