On May 16, 2026, the Astana Light Rail Transit (LRT) project in Kazakhstan officially commenced trial operations. As the first urban rail transit project under the “Belt and Road” Initiative, the first light rail line in Central Asia constructed using Chinese standards, and a flagship benchmark project for China-Kazakhstan production capacity cooperation, this project marks a new milestone in strategic infrastructure cooperation between the two nations. Leveraging its industry-leading core technology accumulation and global engineering delivery experience, GRG Intech provided a complete, integrated Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system technical solution, building a solid intelligent technological foundation for the high-quality opening of the line.
The successful commencement of operations for this project represents a prime example of China’s intelligent rail transit equipment and proprietary core technologies going global. It will vastly improve Astana’s modern, comprehensive public transportation system and elevate the travel experience for citizens, while serving as a vital driver for deepening practical cooperation under the “Belt and Road” Initiative and advancing transnational interconnectivity. By exporting mature, domestically-developed core AFC technologies, the project continues to consolidate the foundation for infrastructure cooperation between China and foreign countries. It empowers overseas urban transport with hardcore sci-tech strength, propels Chinese technology, Chinese standards, and Chinese smart manufacturing into the
international spotlight, and injects long-term momentum into deepening bilateral good-neighborly relations and fostering a new pattern of regional collaborative development. Furthermore, it comprehensively demonstrates the comprehensive advantages of China’s rail transit technology—namely high safety and reliability, wide adaptability, and high integration—while continuously amplifying the brand radiation and industry influence of Chinese rail transit technology across the Central Asian region.
Complete and Mature AFC Technology, Constructing an Intelligent Rail Transit Demonstration Highland in Central Asia
GRG Intech has customized a five-tier integrated rail transit automatic fare collection system for the project, covering the Clearing House (CH) layer, Line Central Computer (LCC) layer, Station Computer (SC) layer, Station Terminal Equipment (SLE) layer, and Ticket Media layer. This establishes the first demonstration project in Central Asia featuring a complete set of domestically-developed rail transit fare
collection technology, serving as a vital window for showcasing the export of China’s intelligent rail transit technology to Central Asia and the global market.
The overall AFC system architecture is scientifically designed with complete hierarchies, deeply aligning with Kazakhstan’s local operation and maintenance management system to enable centralized ticket data collection, digital analysis, and intelligent control. The integrated solution effectively reduces the owner’s late-stage O&M costs, system compatibility costs, and technical iteration costs, facilitating standardized ticketing processes, intelligent management, and transparent operations. Meanwhile, the system adopts a standardized and modular architectural design, leaving ample expansion space for future line capacity expansion, functional upgrades, and network connectivity, thereby long-term supporting the green, steady, and sustainable development of urban rail transit.
Professional Overseas Delivery System, Assisting the Project’s High-Standard Commencement of Operations
Relying on a comprehensive overseas engineering project management and control system, combined with deep-seated experience in the international rail transit engineering field, GRG Intech assembled a professional, multi-disciplinary overseas delivery team and established a barrier-free, multilingual communication mechanism. This precisely mitigated various risks associated with cross-border projects, such as communication barriers, schedule delays, and insufficient system adaptation. The entire process of the project strictly adhered to national-level quality control standards, spanning the entire business chain from equipment production, cross-border transportation, and
on-site installation to system commissioning. The team achieved rapid response, precise rectification, and closed-loop management for customized requirements, ensuring efficient collaboration and orderly progress across all business lines. Upholding high-standard service principles, the team responded swiftly to the owner’s customized needs, dynamically optimized the implementation and delivery plans, and made every effort to ensure the high-quality opening and trial operation of the line on schedule. With its premium delivery capabilities, the team won high praise from the owner, setting a benchmark for high-quality delivery of overseas rail transit projects by Chinese enterprises.
The successful trial operation of the Astana LRT project marks a significant milestone in GRG Intech’s deep cultivation of the overseas rail transit sector and its active implementation of the “Chinese Smart Manufacturing Going Global” strategy. Utilizing its proprietary core technologies, customized intelligent solutions, and high-standard engineering delivery capabilities, the enterprise has assisted Kazakhstan in building a modern, smart rail transit system, effectively improving public transportation conditions and continuously polishing the golden business card of China’s internationalized rail transit.
Looking ahead, GRG Intech will continue to deeply plow the infrastructure markets along the “Belt and Road” initiatives. Driven by continuous technological innovation, the company will iteratively optimize its intelligent rail transit solutions, leveraging the power of science and technology to empower international industrial cooperation and deepen transnational interconnectivity. GRG Intech remains committed to contributing its sci-tech strength to propel China’s high-end smart manufacturing onto the global stage and foster a new pattern of high-level opening up to the outside world.
