A groundbreaking rail logistics terminal is now in the construction phase in Almaty, Kazakhstan, marking a collaborative effort between KTZ and China’s Xi’an Dry Port. The primary objective is to establish a cutting-edge terminal serving the growing volumes of e-commerce. The project kicked off last week with a launching ceremony, signaling the initiation of construction activities.
KTZ outlined ambitious plans for the terminal, envisioning the development of modern temperature-controlled warehouses covering a 1,400 square meters area, along with class “A” warehouses spanning 36,000 square meters for packaged unit cargo and e-commerce shipments. Notably, the Chinese partners proposed integrating robotic warehousing capabilities. In addition to the warehousing facilities, the terminal will feature a 12,000 square meters container platform equipped with an electric gantry crane boasting a lifting capacity of 50 tons.
Almaty, a vital Silk Road hub in Kazakhstan, is already renowned in the Eurasian rail logistics landscape, facilitating cross-border traffic with China and connections to various destinations. KTZ and Xi’an Dry Port anticipate that the new terminal’s construction will enhance the region’s train handling capacity, serving as a consolidation center for trains arriving from diverse Chinese origins. The partners emphasized that the project aims to expand cargo terminal infrastructure capabilities, enabling the efficient storage and processing of substantial cargo volumes in temporary storage warehouses. This, in turn, will improve cargo processing times, ensuring timely deliveries and addressing the evolving needs of the market, particularly the flourishing e-commerce sector.
Image source: https://www.railfreight.com/beltandroad/2023/11/02/construction-of-joint-kazakh-chinese-terminal-starts-in-almaty/