Not just for guests and tourists - the minister was asked about the future of “Astana LRT“

Tengrinews.kz — Will the Astana LRT trains become a mode of transport exclusively for tourists and visitors to the capital? This question was posed to Minister of Transport Nurlan Sauranbayev, reports a correspondent.
"There was a huge surge in interest over the weekend, but ridership dropped significantly yesterday. Could you clarify whether this decline will continue and if the LRT is destined to be used only by tourists and guests?" - the minister was asked during a government briefing.
Sauranbayev responded that construction of the second phase of the LRT—extending toward Kosshy—is currently in full swing. This expansion, he noted, is expected to have a positive impact on passenger traffic.

"If you head toward Kosshy, you will see that work is well underway. The supports (piers — ed. note) are already being installed. Therefore, the first stage of development will be toward Kosshy. Kosshy is growing rapidly and has a large population. Once connected, approximately 50,000 cars from that direction will no longer enter the city daily. So, I believe further development in this area is key," said Nurlan Sauranbayev.

According to him, the first phase of the Astana LRT will also remain in demand, as passengers are purchasing not only single-trip tickets but also long-term transit passes.

"Overall, ridership is currently high, with people buying both tickets and passes. This demonstrates the demand for this mode of transport. And as further development proceeds... this is only the first stage. Later, when it extends toward Kosshy and then to the Right Bank, once that design phase is complete, I believe this mode of transport will be one of the most popular in the city," Nurlan Sauranbayev added.

LRT begins operations in Astana
On Saturday, May 16, President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Jomart Tokayev officially launched the Astana LRT. Serving as the first passenger, the Head of State traveled from the airport, starting at the "Auezjay" station and arriving at the "Ulttyq Museum" station.

Each LRT train is designed to carry over 600 passengers. On the 22.4-kilometer line, 15 trains will operate in driverless mode, with four kept in reserve.
The launch was not without emergency stops. CTS attributed these to passenger error: some individuals pressed emergency brake buttons without necessity or placed their hands between the train doors, causing the system to stall.
According to the operator, passenger traffic on the LRT during its initial days exceeded the projected capacity. On Sunday alone, approximately 100,000 people used the new transit system.
Earlier, CTS head Assylbek Duisebayev announced that plans are in place to extend the LRT to the Right Bank, reaching the old railway station. The company is currently seeking sources of funding.