Rail freight traffic between China and Kazakhstan will be redirected through the Altynkol-Khorgos border crossing.  Most of the affected traffic will concern cargo between China and Central Asia and, specifically, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan. The Alashankou border crossing is still running for trains between China and Europe and Russia and for trains destined to Kazakhstan.

The traffic restriction is due to the fact that the Alashankou-Dostyk border crossing will be partially closed for construction work to double the track capacity. The traffic restriction will be effective as of 1 April. As Kazakhstan’s national railway company Kazakhstan Temir Joly (KTZ) pointed out, works will be carried out on both sides of the border crossing. China will upgrade the section between Jinghe and Alashankou, while Kazakhstan will take care of the stretch between Dostyk and Moyynty.

“Today, the share of traffic along the Dostyk-Alashankou junction in the total volume in Central Asia does not exceed per cent”, KTZ added. The company also pointed out that transiting through the Altynkol-Khorgos border crossing is 10-15 per cent cheaper and 500 kilometres shorter than via Dostyk-Alashankou. These decisions were announced at a meeting of the Organisation for Co-operation between Railways (OSJD) held in Warsaw on 21 March.

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• KTZ tests new China-Europe route to avoid the congested Black Sea