CURRENT RAILWAYS IN KAZAKHSTAN

TRANSPORT SYSTEM OF KAZAKHSTAN

1. Learn words and word combinations:

the Russian Empire Российская империя

gauge ширина колеи

broad gauge широкая колея

standard gauge стандартная ширина колеи

narrow gauge узкая колея

within the borders в пределах границ

to serve the major cities обслуживать главные города

to celebrate a centenary праздновать столетие

dissolution of the Soviet Union распад Советского Союза

to inherit наследовать

to connect соединять, связывать

a newly completed link недавно завершенная железнодорожная линия

a break of gauge разрыв колеи

railway network железнодорожная сеть

to extent увеличивать протяженность

to improve улучшать, совершенствовать

to found основать

a joint stock company акционерная компания

to develop развивать

to operate эксплуатировать

to maintain railway transportation осуществлять железнодорожные перевозки

is headquartered главное управление размещается

to own владеть

rolling stock подвижной состав

hauling equipment локомотивный парк

passenger transport division отдел перевозок пассажиров

repair facilities ремонтное оборудование

to rent rolling stock арендовать подвижной состав

FROM THE HISTORY OF KAZAKHSTANI TRANSPORT SYSTEM

In 1894, the Russian Empire opened a metre gauge railway between Pokrovskaya Sloboda (present day Engels, Russia) and Uralsk, about 130km of which were within the borders of present day Kazakhstan.

The first section of the first line specifically built to serve the major cities of Kazakhstan opened in 1904, and from the opening of this line Kazakhstan Railways celebrated their centenary in 2004.

On the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the Kazakhstan administration inherited a railway system of over 15000km, with international connections to Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and a newly completed link with China.

The railway network was privatized in 2001. Extensions and improvements continue to take place.

Founded by the government in 2002 as a joint stock company KTZ’s task is to develop, operate, and maintain railway transportation in Kazakhstan. It is headquartered in Astana. Related stock companies own the rolling stock, the hauling equipment, and the passenger transport division. Repair facilities have been privatized. Private companies may own or rent rolling stock that can use the rail system.

CURRENT RAILWAYS IN KAZAKHSTAN

the current rail network современная сеть железных дорог

inheritance наследие

to have a broad gauge of 1,520 mm иметь ширину колеи в 1520мм

while в то время, как

to provide a smooth transit обеспечивать плавный переход

break-of-gauge разрыв колеи

track железнодорожный путь

to expand расширять

to employ, employer, employee нанимать, работодатель, работник

to manage управлять, контролировать

remainder остаток, оставшаяся часть

hauling транспортировка, перевозка

ongoing project текущий проект

profitable выгодный, прибыльный

revenue доход

CURRENT RAILWAYS IN KAZAKHSTAN

The current rail network is based on the inheritance from the former Soviet Union and as such has abroad gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 ⁵⁄₆ in). While this provides a smooth transit at international borders to countries of the former Soviet Union, the railway in China has the standard gauge of 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 ¹⁄₂ in); thus there is a break-of-gauge at the eastern border at Dostyk.

Kazakh Railways manages more than 18,800 kilometers of rail network including some of the main international lines connecting Central Asian countries with China and Turkmenistan. More than 68 percent of freight and 57 percent of passenger traffic in Kazakhstan relies on the country's railroads. The Kazakhstan sections of the old Trans-Aral Railway, the Trans-Caspian Railway, and the Turkestan-Siberian Railway have become incorporated into the KTZ. 3000 km are electrified at 25 kV 50 Hz AC.

KTZ is the largest employer in Kazakhstan with about 143,000 employees. It manages over 80,000 wagons, 50,000 of them state-owned, and the remainder in private hands. While most of the hauling is done by diesel engines, electrification of track is an ongoing project. The company is profitable and its 2008 revenues were 483.8 billion Kazakhstani tenge (US$3.9 billion).

Why has the current rail network a broad gauge of 1,520 mm (4 ft 11 ⁵⁄₆ in)?

Why is there a break-of-gauge at the eastern border at Dostyk?

How many kilometers of rail network do Kazakh Railways manage?

Do Kazakh Railways include any international lines?

What can you say about freight and passenger traffic in Kazakhstan?

How many kilometers are electrified?

Is KTZ is the largest employer in Kazakhstan with about 143,000 employees?