ASTANA, Kazakhstan, February 12. Kazakhstan Railways is taking measures to improve safety with a new action plan to address railway safety issues by 2027, Trend reports via Kazakhstan Railways.
At a meeting of the Main Transport Prosecutor's Office of Kazakhstan, key issues of the country's transport infrastructure and priority tasks for 2025 were discussed.
Based on the results of the analysis of transportation accidents in previous years, three key problems were identified for the entire transportation infrastructure of the country: aging infrastructure, the absence or insufficiency of a regulatory and legal framework that meets modern safety requirements in the industry, and the shortage of qualified specialists.
According to the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the railway network is 57 percent worn out. To address this situation, Kazakhstan Railways is undertaking large-scale work. Together with the Ministry of Transport, a "Roadmap for eliminating identified railway safety violations" has been adopted.
In addition, the meeting noted that important processes in the transport sector have long been without proper regulatory oversight - transport entities are guided by local regulations and their own rules. At the request of the prosecutor’s office, the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Kazakhstan has created an interdepartmental working group to develop the relevant regulatory acts, including those regulating the repair of rolling stock and setting qualification requirements for repair enterprises.
Regarding the shortage of qualified personnel, following several proposals by the prosecutor's office, the Ministry of Transport has organized training courses and internships for its staff, including abroad, in 2024.
The Transport Prosecutor’s Office also worked on other important areas last year. For example, the transfer of 54 objects from the energy sector of Kazakhstan to state ownership was completed, as well as the baggage terminal and land plot of the International Center for Cross-Border Cooperation "Khorgos."
In compliance with the orders of the President of Kazakhstan to strengthen the country's position as a key transit hub in Eurasia and develop measures to eliminate administrative barriers for businesses, the rights of more than 11,000 entrepreneurs were protected. Two working groups are collaborating with authorized agencies to address the issues of carriers.
At the end of the meeting, priority tasks for 2025 were outlined. The primary focus remains on ensuring the safety of citizens at transport facilities.
To note, the roadmap for eliminating identified railway safety violations includes investment measures for the repair of 70 bridges by 2027, 11,000 kilometers of main tracks by 2029, updating the rolling stock, and implementing other related activities.