National carrier Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has launched an autumn train ticket sale. Passengers are offered discounts of 20% to 30% on travel along several routes, according to infohub.kz.
The carrier's press service said the promotion applies to only six routes and certain types of cars. There is another restriction: it covers trains departing Monday through Thursday. Tickets at reduced prices went on sale on September 19.
Here are the routes involved:
1. No. 77/78 Almaty – Mangystau. Car type: compartment. Discount: 20%.
2. No. 9/10 Astana – Almaty. Car type: seated. Discount: 30%.
3. No. 67/68 Astana – Ust-Kamenogorsk. Car type: seated. Discount: 30%.
4. No. 65/66 Astana – Kyzylorda. Car type: tourist (compartment). Discount: 25%.
5. No. 11/12 Almaty – Shymkent. Car type: tourist (compartment). Discount: 20%.
6. No. 25/26 Almaty – Shymkent. Car type: tourist (compartment). Discount: 20%.
"Additional information is available by calling the toll-free number 1433, as well as on the official Instagram page of Passenger Transportation JSC — @jolaushylar_tasymaly," the press service added.
About ticket prices
In the summer, journalists asked KTZ Deputy Chairman Anuar Akhmetzhanov why in some cases train fares are comparable to plane tickets. According to the national carrier's representative, train ticket prices do not change depending on the season or time of day and remain the same year-round, so comparing them with airfares is incorrect.
Earlier, Kursiv wrote that KTZ is discussing a ban on the purchase of tickets in the same compartment by unfamiliar men and women.