The assembly of LRT cars in Astana has commenced in China, as reported by the business information center Kapital.kz, citing the official website of the city administration.
According to the company CTS, the production of the first LRT rolling stock is underway in the Chinese city of Tangshan. An order has been placed for 19 units with the manufacturer CRRC Tangshan Co., Ltd. The 60-meter rolling stock will be equipped with a software and hardware complex featuring GOA 4 automation level, which ensures: automatic door opening and closing; stopping and acceleration; entering and exiting the depot; monitoring the condition of the trains; controlling the distance between trains; and performing other functions without operator (driver) involvement.
The four-section trains can accommodate over 600 passengers at full capacity. High-strength materials will be used in the cabins, including organosilicate leather and fiberglass composites, which will enhance passenger comfort.
To reduce noise, thickened windows and sound-absorbing elements, as well as elastic wheels of increased diameter, are utilized.
The trains are equipped with modern information systems, including external and internal displays; LCD monitors showing the route, final and next stations, door opening direction, as well as emergency information.
Considering the climatic conditions of the capital, the front window is equipped with an electric heating system with a temperature adjustment range, preventing fogging during sudden temperature changes. The capacity of the air conditioning unit is 35 kW (cooling capacity). Currently, the manufacturing and welding of body elements made of aluminum alloy is underway. The first rolling stock is expected to be ready by the end of May. The first trains will arrive in September, after which testing will commence.
“Test operation or trial launch is a crucial stage before commissioning. During this period, all elements of the infrastructure, rolling stock, and equipment will be checked, meaning the integrity of the tracks, the power supply system, and all telecommunication systems will be examined. Based on the testing data, we will gather a substantial amount of information for analysis, and subsequently, we will prepare a comprehensive report that will guide the decision on commissioning. The start of the trial launch is scheduled for September of this year. The tests will continue for several months,” said Orynbasar Agbaev, the Managing Director of LLP “City Transportation Systems.”
According to the analysis of passenger flow on similar routes, it is expected that the LRT rolling stock will transport up to 25,000 passengers daily.
It is worth noting that the akim of Astana, Zhenis Kasymbek, stated during an expanded government meeting with the participation of the head of state that the LRT construction project is nearing completion, and active testing may begin as early as September.