Train traveling between Astana and Almaty, Kazakhstan, introduces onboard internet connection for the first time in the country.
Digitalizing Kazakhstan's Trains: Enhancing Passenger Experience and Security
Kazakhstan is transforming its train services as part of a broader digitization effort in its transportation sector. The goal is to improve the passenger experience, increase security, and modernize the infrastructure.
Digitizing Train Services
The digitization of train services in Kazakhstan includes the use of cloud storage for storing video recordings and surveillance data from trains. This move is aimed at providing better control and security. The Astana-Almaty route train, the first in Kazakhstan to offer internet access, is now equipped with video surveillance systems and chest video recorders for train conductors, providing a means for recording train events.
Passengers on the Astana-Almaty route can now make video calls, stream videos, and browse the web during the 17-hour journey, thanks to the internet service provided through satellite technology. It is planned to expand this service to other routes in the future.
Enhancing the Passenger Experience
The digitization of train services aims to enhance the passenger experience, in addition to providing better security and control. The internet access allows for real-time communication and entertainment during travel, making the journey more enjoyable for passengers.
A Broader Digital Transformation
The digitization of train services is part of a larger digital transformation in Kazakhstan's transportation sector. Other initiatives include the introduction of mobile ticket-checking terminals on trains, which simplify the ticketing process and reduce the need for physical interactions.
Kazakhstan is also working on integrating modern solutions such as automatic navigation and monitoring systems, a single electronic declaration system, and unmanned vehicles to transport goods across borders, as part of the Smart Customs Project at the Bakhty-Pokitu border checkpoints.
The Digital Trade Corridor, based on the TEZ Customs platform, automates customs procedures, significantly reducing processing times. The West–East Fiber-Optic Highway, a 3,700 km fiber-optic highway connecting China's Xinjiang province to the Caspian Sea, is under construction and expected to be completed in 2026. This project will provide a secure, high-speed terrestrial route for global data flows, positioning Kazakhstan as a strategic hub for hyperscale data centers.
Kazakhstan is also developing an AI hub at the Nur Alem sphere in Astana, focusing on AI education, research, and technology. Additionally, a national supercomputer was launched in May 2025 to support machine learning and cybersecurity tasks, further enhancing the country's digital capabilities.
These initiatives underscore Kazakhstan's commitment to leveraging technology to improve its transportation infrastructure and solidify its role as a key transit country in Eurasia.
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- To further improve the digitalization of Kazakhstan's train services, the use of data and cloud computing technology will be employed to manage and analyze transportation data, aiming to optimize operational efficiency and enhance passenger service.
- As part of the integration of modern solutions in Kazakhstan's transportation sector, the implementation of advanced finance and technology systems will streamline the management of public-transit services
- Beyond the digitization of train services, Kazakhstan's broader digital transformation includes the development of technology-driven initiatives such as the construction of the West–East Fiber-Optic Highway, which will boost finance-related activities, such as global data flows, facilitating Kazakhstan's position as a strategic hub for hyperscale data centers.
