Kazakhstan uses Starlink to manage train traffic

By Alimat Aliyeva

The Starlink satellite system is now being used to manage intermediate train traffic in Kazakhstan, AzerNEWS reports.

This was announced by Marat Shakenov, Deputy Chairman of the Board of JSC NC Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, during a government meeting.

According to Shakenov, the digital system for intermediate regulation of train movements, “AIMAK RAIL,” has been implemented on the small railway section between Karagaily and Kokpekty.

Work on the project began in December of last year, deploying the 247 km-long Starlink satellite network to support train operations. In its first stage, the system is expected to increase capacity by up to four pairs of trains per day, and in the second stage, up to seven pairs per day. Annual cargo transportation is projected at 3 million tons in the first stage and over 5 million tons in the second. A test run of the trains is scheduled for April.

Interestingly, experts suggest that integrating satellite technology like Starlink into rail systems could revolutionize logistics in remote regions, improving efficiency, safety, and real-time monitoring. Kazakhstan may become one of the first countries in Central Asia to fully leverage satellite-based traffic management for its rail network.