New sorting tracks increase efficiency at the KTZE Khorgos Gateway

The commissioning of new sorting tracks at the KTZE–Khorgos Gateway has significantly increased the efficiency of the terminal at the Kazakh-Chinese border. Since September 2025, nine sorting tracks with a gauge of 1,520 mm and a facility for repairing uncoupled wagons have been available. These expansions have significantly increased the terminal’s capacity for forming container trains at the international transport hub Altynkol–Khorgos.

The new infrastructure has raised the terminal’s handling capacity from 540,000 TEU to 800,000 TEU per year, representing an increase of 48%. According to the operator, this is an important step in strengthening Kazakhstan’s transit potential and improving transport corridors between China, Central Asia, and Europe.

Efficient handling of freight wagons

In the first nine months after commissioning, the new facilities were able to accommodate approximately 1,300 freight wagons, and more than 500 wagons were repaired. Additionally, over 10,000 vehicles were loaded onto flat wagons. The new sorting tracks enable the terminal to handle up to nine trains simultaneously, with each train consisting of up to 57 conventional wagons. This creates additional capacity for accumulating wagons, targeted sorting, and efficient formation of container trains without having to wait for capacity availability in the main rail network.

The availability of the special sorting tracks also helps minimize the dwell times of wagons and improves the utilization of the operators‘ rolling stock. Furthermore, the ability to store rolling stock within the terminal reduces the risk of bottlenecks with empty wagons during peak times.

Overall, the new sorting tracks have taken on a central role in the operational infrastructure of the Khorgos Gateway. They enable faster processing of freight, improve service quality for customers, and strengthen the terminal’s position as one of the largest dry terminals in Eurasia.

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