Trains on Almaty's light rail transit (LRT) system will cross intersections in priority mode once the line opens, the city's Road Infrastructure Development Department said in response to an official request, infohub.kz reports.
According to the department, the future line will feature an automated system linking trains with traffic lights. It is this system that will give LRT trains the right of way at intersections.
The line will run east along Tole bi street. On this stretch, the two middle lanes of the road will be set aside for LRT traffic and separated from car traffic.
"At the same time, the capacity of a five-section train is up to 283 passengers, and the average operating speed is envisaged at 30–35 km/h. The combination of these parameters and the established interval between trains will make it possible to carry a significant number of passengers," the department said.
Not long ago, workers shared footage of the first rails of the future transit system being laid.
Priority at intersections will allow the LRT to depend less on car traffic and avoid losing time en route. This is especially important for public transport, which carries hundreds of times more passengers per trip than a car. Also, the more passengers who choose the trains, the fewer cars there will be on the roads.
Recall that the official start of construction on the first line of the new transit system was announced in early June 2026. The first phase will be about 18 km long, with 34 platforms along the route. On the section from Abylai Khan avenue to Almaty-2 railway station, trains will operate in autonomous mode.
Later, Tole bi street was dug up for the future rails. Drivers lost two lanes, while public transport passengers still have to endure traffic jams and wait for the LRT to launch.
As the akimat promises, all construction work will be completed by the end of 2027.