BAKU, Azerbaijan, Jan. 13
Trend:
An analysis of the freight transportation sector in Kazakhstan showed that freight turnover increased by 3.5 percent in 2020 and amounted to 231.8 billion ton-kilometers compared to 2019, Trend reports with reference to Kazakhstan Temir Zholy JSC (Kazakhstan Railways).
Over 256.5 million tons of cargo have been loaded through the Kazakhstan Railways JSC, which is by 1.4 million tons more than in the previous year.
The nomenclature of goods which are transported by trains remained unchanged.
Loading of iron and manganese ore increased by 2 percent (up to 27 million tons), non-ferrous and sulfuric ores by 13 percent (up to 23 million tons), ferrous metals - by 10 percent (up to 5 million tons).
There is a slight decrease in the volume of transportation of construction and oil cargo compared to the previous year.
Some 19 million tons of construction cargo were loaded, which is 94 percent compared to the indicator of 2019, oil cargo - 17 million tons (92 percent).
A decrease in demand for construction materials due to the coronavirus epidemic and a drop in oil prices were the factors that influenced the cargo transportation volumes.
"The national carrier of goods annually fulfills the plans for the transportation of socially important goods, such as grain and coal," Deputy Chairman of the Board for Freight Transportation of Kazakhstan Railways JSC, Director General of Kazakhstan Railways-Freight Transportation LLP Dauren Bimov said.
Some 103.2 million tons of coal were shipped from January through December 2020, which is by 700,000 tons more than in 2019.
More than 73 million tons were supplied for public utilities and the population of the country. Some 30 million tons of solid fuel were supplied for export, which is by three percent more than in the previous year.
More than nine million tons of grain of the new harvest were transported. More than two million tons were transported within the country, about seven million tons – for export. Kazakh grain was supplied to Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, China, Russia.
The handling of products (including flour) increased by five percent and amounted to almost three million tons. About two million tons were exported, which is by 10 percent more than in 2019.
"Kazakhstan Railways-Freight Transportation" LLP has improved the quality indicators of using traction rolling stock. So, the average daily mileage of a locomotive was increased by 1.3 percent compared to last year.
At the same time, the consumption of diesel fuel for traction of trains decreased by more than 11,000 tons as of 2020. Savings have been achieved through the energy-saving measures.
The cargo transportation volume to other countries, including China, also increased.
The annual transportation plan - 19.5 million tons of cargo through the border stations of China and Kazakhstan was completed ahead of schedule.
Cargo transportation volume increased by 24 percent compared to 2019. The cargo transportation volume from Kazakhstan to China increased by 34 percent, back - by 9 percent.
Railway workers at border stations set a record for the average daily exchange of freight trains in 2020.
Some 18 trains were transferred per day instead of 16 through the Dostyk-Alashankou border crossing, eight trains per day instead of five through the Altynkol-Khorgos border crossing.
"Dostyk station is a key link in cargo transportation between Europe and Asia,” Bimov added. “The work will be carried out to lengthen four tracks in the T border park within the project to expand and modernize the railway station in 2021.”
“To increase the throughput of the section, the second track will be built on the Dostyk stretch - junction 19 and three additional tracks at junction 19," Bimov said.
It is envisaged to lay an additional four tracks in the "G" park with the possibility of receiving / sending trains in the direction of the Dostyk-Aktogay section and the construction of a new post.
All this will increase the productivity of the station.
More than 7,000 container transit trains moved through Kazakhstan last year in 2020, which is by 39 percent more than in 2019.
About 4,800 container trains were sent in the direction of China - Europe - China, increasing by 55 percent.
The route speed of container trains in the direction of China - Europe reached 1,152 kilometers per day, which is by four percent more compared to 2019.
The measures related to the railway will be taken to increase cargo turnover both within the country and in international direction, increase the average speed of container trains and others in 2021.
