Urumqi-Astana through train

Urumqi-Astana through train
Overview
Service type	Express train
Status	Suspended
Locale	Kazakhstan; China
Current operator(s)	KTJ Tselinograd
Route
Termini	Astana; Urumqi
Stops	Dostik; Alashankou
Train number(s)	053Ц/054Ц（Astana↔Aqtogai） 013Х/014ЦТ（Aqtogai↔Dostik） K9797/9798（China）
Line(s) used	Turksib
On-board services
Sleeping arrangements	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	MECT Platzkart
Track gauge	1,524 mm (5 ft) 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)

Urumqi-Astana through train, 053Ц/054Ц from Astana to Aqtogai, 013Х/014ЦТ from Aqtogai to Dostyk and K9797/9798 in China is an international train operated by KTJ Tselinograd since 27 May 2008, it is the second Sino-Kazakhstan international train after the Urumqi-Almaty route. The travel distance of the train is 1898 km, which the journey lasts for 38.5 hrs. And the return journey lasts for 38 hrs 48 mins.

History

The construction of Lanzhou-Xinjiang railway was completed in 1990 and connected to the Soviet Turksib to form the New Eurasian Land Bridge.^[1] However, due to lack of passenger services between China and Europe, the Sino-European transport is limited until the Urumqi-Almaty through train commenced in 1992. With the moving of capital to Astana in 1997, China and Kazakhstan begin to evaluate the possibility of operating a new train route from Astana.^[2]

Due to rapid development of Xinjiang as an entreport of Central Asia. The original aviation and land transport didn't met the demand, thus the importance raised for a second international railway.

In May 2008, China and Kazakhstan agreed on opening a new train route between Astana and Urumqi, and went into trial operations on 21 May 2008.^[3] On 27 May 2008, the train commenced operations as 053Ц/054Ц in Kazakhstan and N897/898 in China, the train is operated by KTJ Tselinograd and change bogies at Dostyk. The train operates one return journey.

From 1 April 2009, CR reschedule N897/898 to K9797/9798 as a part of reschedule.

Due to Astana World Expo in 2017, train 053Ц/054Ц changed the Kazakhstan termini to Astana Nurly Zhol station.

From 20 March 2019, the Kazakhstan termini Astana is renamed to Nur-Sultan until it's revert in 2022.

From 2020, due to COVID-19, all services will terminate at Dostyk and the Chinese section is suspended.^[4]

Train composition

The train are operated with German made Russian MECT coaches, which there will be four platzkart coaches under KTJ Tselinograd.^[5] In addition, the train will be detached and joined with the Urumqi-Almaty train at Aqtogai.

Due to gauge differences between two countries, all KTJ trains will change bogies at Dostik. The passengers will alight the train and wait at the forementioned stations for about 3 hours to complete a full immigration clearance.

Section	Astana↔Urumqi
Coaches	5-8
Type	МЕСТ-36 36 pax Platzkart
Operator	KTJ Tselinograd

Loco shift

Section	Urumqi↔Alashankou	Alashankou↔Dostik	Dostyk↔Moyinty	Moyinty↔Astana
Loco Operator Shift	HXD1D CR Urumqi Urumqi driver	DF8B CR Urumqi Alashankou driver	TE33A DL KTJ KTJ driver	VL80S KTJ KTJ driver

Schedule

Kazakhstan time is 2 hours behind China

054Ц/013Х/K9798				Stop	K9797/014ЦТ/053Ц
Train no.	Day	Arrival	Departure	Stop	Departure	Arrival	Day	Train no.
054Ц	Day 1	—	16:58	Astana	13:01	—	Day 1	053Ц
		17:53	18:18	Vyshnevka	12:05	12:07
		18:52	18:53	Osakarovka	11:27	11:32
		19:50	19:51	Myrza	10:10	10:30
		20:21	20:36	Karaganda Marshalling Yard	08:57	09:12
		20:59	21:19	Karaganda	08:09	08:32
		22:46	23:07	Zarik	06:33	06:34
	Day 2	00:34	00:49	Akadyr	05:19	05:36
		02:27	02:57	Moyinty	03:09	03:41
		04:42	04:57	Balqash 1	01:09	01:24
		05:05	05:15	Balqash 2	00:51	01:01
		07:44	07:59	Sayak	22:09	22:25	Day 2
054Ц/013Х		10:30	11:23	Aqtogai	18:28	19:35		014ЦТ/053Ц
013Х		13:31	13:46	Beskol	16:06	16:21		014ЦТ
		14:29	14:34	Akshi	15:19	15:24
		15:33	15:38	Zalangaskol	13:38	13:43
013Х/K9798		16:35	19:50	Dostyk	09:20	12:40		K9797/014ЦТ
↑ Kazakhstan（KST UTC+06:00） / China（CST UTC+08:00） ↓
K9798	Day 2	22:10	23:50	Alashankou	08:00	11:00	Day 2	K9797
K9798	Day 3	08:54	—	Urumqi	—	23:33	Day 1	K9797

References

^ 王馨源 (2002年). 《中国铁路国际联运大事记》. 中国铁道出版社. p. 第108页.
^ 中哈开行首趟阿斯塔纳至乌鲁木齐国际旅客列车^{[permanent dead link]}. 隧道网. 2008年6月4日.
^ 阿斯塔纳—乌鲁木齐列车首发^{[permanent dead link]}. 亚心网. 2008年5月30日.
^ "中国与朝鲜、哈萨克斯坦间旅客列车暂停运营". 人民网-社会频道. 2020-01-30. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-01-30.
^ 乌鲁木齐-阿斯塔纳国际列车硬卧票价597元^{[dead link]}. 天山网. 2008年5月30日.

[1] 王馨源 (2002年). 《中国铁路国际联运大事记》. 中国铁道出版社. p. 第108页.

[2] 中哈开行首趟阿斯塔纳至乌鲁木齐国际旅客列车^{[permanent dead link]}. 隧道网. 2008年6月4日.

[3] 阿斯塔纳—乌鲁木齐列车首发^{[permanent dead link]}. 亚心网. 2008年5月30日.

[4] "中国与朝鲜、哈萨克斯坦间旅客列车暂停运营". 人民网-社会频道. 2020-01-30. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2020-01-30.

[5] 乌鲁木齐-阿斯塔纳国际列车硬卧票价597元^{[dead link]}. 天山网. 2008年5月30日.

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