Upcoming construction project facing financial pressures
In a recent government briefing, Minister Nurlan Sauranbayev highlighted the significant challenges and costs associated with building high-speed trains in Kazakhstan. According to Sauranbayev, high-speed trains would require substantial investment and special considerations due to their high cost and potential impact on the budget.
This sentiment is shared by Talgat Aldabergenov, the Chairman of the Board of JSC "NC "Kazakhstan Temir Zholy". Both Sauranbayev and Aldabergenov have expressed concern over the cost of high-speed trains.
One potential solution for building high-speed trains in Kazakhstan is constructing them on a separate track. However, this would require significant construction and pose a heavy economic burden on the budget. The estimated cost for a high-speed train between Almaty and Astana ranges from 20 to 30 billion dollars.
Aldabergenov estimated that one kilometer of high-speed railway track costs approximately 12 million dollars. Given this estimate, the cost of constructing high-speed railway tracks in Kazakhstan could potentially pose a financial challenge.
The cost of high-speed trains, as estimated by Aldabergenov, could impact the feasibility of building high-speed trains in Kazakhstan. The operation of a high-speed train between Almaty and Astana would be so expensive that it would be cheaper for the state to buy airplanes and transport people between the cities for free.
Railway transport is less competitive in Kazakhstan compared to other modes of transportation, such as air travel. This is partly due to the combined passenger and freight railway tracks, which complicate train movement.
Despite the challenges, Kazakhstan is partnering with firms like Alstom to develop local technical expertise and install modern signaling systems. This is vital for safe high-speed operation, but adds to initial costs.
The key challenges facing high-speed railway construction in Kazakhstan include aging infrastructure, geographical and geological obstacles, extreme climate, economic and political risks, technical demands, and capital and investment requirements. These factors combine to make high-speed railway construction in Kazakhstan a complex, capital-intensive, and long-term endeavour.
In conclusion, the costs associated with building high-speed railways in Kazakhstan are significant due to the need to replace or upgrade worn-out infrastructure, tackle difficult geology and climate, install advanced signaling, and ensure economic sustainability amid geopolitical uncertainties. These factors, along with the high estimated cost of constructing high-speed railway tracks, make the decision-making process regarding the implementation of high-speed trains in Kazakhstan a complex one.
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