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The historic Astana-1 railway station in Kazakhstan's capital is set to undergo a significant transformation, with updated design concepts now publicly available. Kazakhstan Railways (KTZ) has presented the modernized vision, sparking considerable discussion regarding the project's scope and escalating costs.

Rising Project Costs Explained

Initially, in 2024, former Minister Marat Karabayev indicated that the overhaul of Astana-1 station would require 6 billion tenge. However, by March 2026, the capital's transport and infrastructure development department reported that this figure had increased to 16.6 billion tenge. KTZ has clarified that the station's "beyond class" status necessitates special requirements, including stringent fire safety and sanitary standards, enhanced security and anti-terrorism measures, and adherence to high architectural and territorial standards.

Extensive Renovation Scope

The modernization efforts extend beyond passenger areas to include administrative facilities. The project encompasses construction and installation work for the first two floors of the public zone and a nine-story administrative block. The total area of the station will cover 9,352.8 square meters, with plans for a 6,494 square meter island platform. The station's average daily passenger traffic, estimated at 5,286 people, is also cited as a factor influencing the project's cost.

Regional Comparisons Highlight Differences

In contrast, the renovation of six stations in the Abai region (Aktogay, Shar, Zhanatлек, Ushbiik, Belagash, and Aksuat) is budgeted at a total of 4.1 billion tenge, approximately one-fourth the cost of the single Astana-1 station project. These six regional stations collectively handle only 862 passengers daily, significantly less than Astana-1. Their total area is 3,024.44 square meters, less than half the size of the planned island platform at Astana-1.

Project Timeline and Future Plans

The renovation of Astana-1 station is slated for completion by December 31, 2026. KTZ aims to renovate over 120 railway stations nationwide by the end of 2026. Of these, 37 have been deemed dilapidated and require demolition. Currently, construction and installation work has been completed at 36 stations, with another 48 in their final stages.

This information was reported by the Infohub.kz news agency.