The first automated, unmanned light rail in Central Asia went into service on May 16 in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The rail is a landmark project of China-Kazakhstan collaboration on infrastructure interconnectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative.
The builders include various Chinese enterprises, such as China Railway 14th Bureau Group Corporation Limited, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation Limited (CRCC).
The first phase of the light rail in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, begins operations on May 16. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
The first phase of the light rail is 22.4 kilometers long. It was constructed using Chinese equipment and technologies, fully complying with Chinese standards. Elevated above the ground, it has double lines with 18 stations. With the help of the GOA4 unmanned driving system, it can support trains running at 80 kilometers per hour.
Astana has a 6-month winter, with temperatures as low as minus 37 degrees Celsius. To address the challenge of extreme cold, the China Railway 14th Bureau construction team established surveillance points along the rail in advance to monitor temperature changes around the clock, ensuring that comparatively warmer periods conducive to construction were identified. Advanced techniques were adopted to ensure the quality of concrete construction, and the power supply system was upgraded to serve in low temperatures, demonstrating that Chinese standards are reliable and adaptive under extreme circumstances. The construction team controlled the deviation of the track to within 1 millimeter and made efforts to reduce noise in the areas with strict requirements.
The first phase of the light rail in Astana introduced Chinese rail standards to Central Asia, offering a Chinese solution for building railways in ultra-cold regions. This landmark project highlighted China's transition from an equipment exporter to a provider of international standards.
(Executive editor: Zuo Shihan)
