Astana LRT to Launch This Spring, Mayor Announces

Astana Mayor Zhenis Kassymbek has announced that the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system is expected to be commissioned in the coming months, with passenger service potentially beginning this spring. The city head shared this update on his social media pages.

Mayor Kassymbek, alongside Deputy Prime Minister Roman Sklyar, visited the LRT depot to inspect the readiness of the Unified Control Center. According to the Mayor, this center will play a central role in managing the city’s overall transport infrastructure.

Key functions of the Control Center include:

• Monitoring LRT train movements.
• Coordinating traffic lights within the Intelligent Transport System (ITS).
• Providing dispatch support for public buses.
• Managing the city's bike-sharing system.
• Processing and analyzing traffic flow data.

During the visit, officials also inspected several key stations, including "Airport," "Bayterek," "House of Ministries," and "Museum."

According to the Mayor, engineering infrastructure and security systems are currently being tested, and staff members are undergoing specialized training. Emergency response algorithms are also being finalized. The trains will operate in a fully automated, pilotless (driverless) format.

The exact start date for passenger transportation will be officially announced once all tests are completed and the system’s compliance with technical requirements is fully certified.