South Korea’s RETD Co. will construct a light rail transit (LRT) system connecting Almaty and Qonaev, the administrative center of Kazakhstan’s Almaty region, according to the regional governor’s office.
The project will use magnetic levitation (maglev) technology, an advanced transportation system in which trains are suspended and propelled by magnetic forces, eliminating friction and allowing for ultra-high-speed travel.
RETD Co. CEO Lee Chang Wook expressed confidence in the company’s ability to contribute to Kazakhstan’s infrastructure development. He called maglev «the transport of the future» and said RETD Co. is proud to be part of the Almaty region’s large-scale growth.
In June 2023, media reports indicated that the regional administration had signed a memorandum of understanding with Turkish firm Tasyapı for a similar LRT project. The proposed network included two branches: one running through Kaskelen, Esik, Talgar, Almaty and Uzynagash; and the other connecting Almaty and Qonaev directly. Plans also included park-and-ride facilities in Talgar and Kaskelen to ease congestion in Almaty. The route was expected to span 146 kilometers.
Investment figures were not disclosed, but the Turkish company was scheduled to begin developing a feasibility study in July. However, in April 2024, the Almaty regional administration signed a new memorandum of intent with South Korea’s RETD Co.
