Almaty to launch six underground trains in 2010

Completion of the first branch of Almaty subway is scheduled for late 2010. Director of ‘Metroproject’ LLP Muratbek Kulbayev announced that Almaty underground would initially operate six car trains.

“We are launching only six trains for now,” M Kulbayev told the newspaper “Evening Almaty” on December 17. According to the representative of Directorate for Construction of Underground Kanybek Nurmahanbetov subway cars produced in South Korea will be delivered to Almaty in May-August 2010.

Mr Nurmahanbetov reported that the cash price of a one-way ticket amounts to 75 tenge. However he clarified that payments would be made via electronic cards.

South Korean company Hyundai has already constructed and tested first train, designed for Almaty underground.

"The first subway train is complete. We have successfully tested all the units and mechanisms, and got ready to ship," - said General Manager of Hyundai Corporation branch in Kazakhstan Lee Jae-hwan in an interview with the “Vremya” newspaper published on December 23.

Delivery of the train is scheduled for May 2010. Hyunday representative also noted that maintenance equipment for the vehicle is 70% complete and will be transported to Almaty in July 2010.

According to Lee Jae-hwan the company has already installed escalators on some stations, however the rest are still awaiting the completion of construction works.

The first turn of the first line of Almaty subway with seven stations extending to 8,3 km is located under the busy parts of the city - Abai avenue and Furmanov street. It will connect one-string business districts of the city. Average depth of excavations is 40 m.

Other news of the rubric:

• On September 15 Astana hosted a round-table discussion ‘New Tax Code: Business Growth Opportunities and Risks.’
• Two twin brothers built limousine out of two Moskvich 412 cars in Aktyubinsk
• Karaganda teacher modeled bioresources map of Kazakhstan in plasticine
• Kazakh Civil Aviation will be examined for compliance with European standards