Two new railway lines connecting Western and Central Kazakhstan entered operations. Construction works for Zhezkazgan-Beineu (988 km) and Arkalyk-Shubarkol (over 214 km) lines started in July 2012 and were estimated at KZT 621 bn (EUR 2.6 bn).

“The launch of the new lines completes a whole main railway network. The new railway connections will give an impetus to the development of the Central and West Kazakhstan, contributing to industrial development of the country’s regions and creating a total of 3500 jobs”, Askar Mamin, President of Kazakhstan Railways. According to him, the new connections will raise the transit potential of trans-Kazakhstan transport corridors from China towards Russia and Europe.