Photo: DKNews.kz
Construction of one of the main complexes of the LRT project – a service station – has started in Astana. The depot will be located in the area of the capital’s airport and will occupy an area of 16.2 hectares, DKNews.kz reports.
A full range of services on maintenance and repair of light-rail transportation will be rendered here. According to the plan, the complex will consist of several industrial and domestic buildings, including car wash, repair and assembly shop, locomotive depot, garage, workshop, materials warehouse, boiler house, sewage treatment station and other facilities. A traffic control center will also be based here.
200 workers, 60 highly qualified specialists were present at the ceremony of starting the construction of the station. The event was attended by heads of PRC and Kazakhstan companies: Zhao Jiping from Shanghai Tianyou Engineering Consulting Co., Ltd., Fu Xijun – director of the branch of “China Railway Asia-Europe Construction Investment Co., Ltd.” in Kazakhstan, Lin Liguan – head of “China Construction Sixth Bureau”, Orynbasar Agbaev – managing director – member of the Board of CTS, Bao Tong – head of Beijing Design Institute of Urban Construction. In a solemn atmosphere, the distinguished guests cut the red ribbon, thus officially giving the start of construction of the new facility.
“This is a large and very important complex of the LRT project. At the initial stage, 200 people will be involved in its construction, and the number of specialists will increase to 300-400 as needed. The facility is expected to be completed within a year. That is, in 2025, at which time it is planned to put the entire LRT system into pilot operation. Chinese companies have extensive experience in the construction of such facilities.We got acquainted with their work, their portfolio during our visit to China”, – said Orynbasar Agbaev, Managing Director, Member of the Board of CTS.
As the representatives of the Chinese side specified, the company “China Construction Sixth Bureau” participated in many transportation megaprojects of the People’s Republic of China: in the construction of LRT in Tianjin, Beijing, Guangzhou and other cities. For example, in Tianjin it built 310 kilometers of light rail and subway.
Now the portfolio of the organization will be replenished with one more object in Astana. In addition to the construction of the Depot, the company is entrusted with the construction of 18.34 km of LRT line, including 9 stations and 14 sections.
The total length of the new LRT transportation system in Astana will be 22.4 km.
Several Chinese companies are involved in its construction. The land metro will connect the airport and the new railway station “Nurly Zhol”. It is known that the route will include 18 stops and will pass through the key objects of the capital: the international airport, Nazarbayev University, EXPO, Abu Dhabi, the Ministry of Defense, the presidential palace, the national center of information technology, the central concert hall, the national museum, the new railway station, etc.
“Once completed, the light rail will reduce the travel time between end stations by almost half. It will become the most technologically advanced urban rail transportation project in Kazakhstan and the entire Central Asian region. It will contribute to the modernization and renewal of Kazakhstan’s transport infrastructure and greatly improve the efficiency of movement of Astana residents” – emphasized Lin Liguang, head of ‘China Construction Sixth Bureau’ .
According to the information of CTS company, about 102-105 thousand passengers daily travel along the LRT route by buses. It is expected that with the introduction of light rail transportation passengers will prefer it because of its high speed (commercial speed of buses – 10-15 km, LRT – 45 km.). According to forecasts, already in the first year of operation with the help of LRT will be able to move from 80 to 100 thousand people a day.
“After the completion of the first stage, it is planned to develop suburban directions. For example, towards Kosshi. In general, the idea itself is to make public transportation attractive so that people can leave their cars in certain places and transfer to it. Thus there is a multiplier effect. The streets of the capital are being relieved. LRT can accommodate up to 600-700 people. That is, one LRT train is 300-400 cars, which usually carry 2-3 passengers,” said Orynbasar Agbaev, Managing Director, Member of the Management Board of CTS.
Currently, several road sections in the center of Astana are blocked due to LRT construction. According to the capital’s authorities, this year the elevated part will be fully completed and part of the stations will be built. By the end of next year, construction work will be completed and negotiations are already underway to order trains and equipment.