The reforms are being proposed in line with the 2020 National Programme for the Development and Integration of Transport Infrastructure and the Strategic Plan for the Development of Kazakhstan.

Under the draft resolution, which will be submitted shortly to the relevant government agencies for approval, a new company - KTZ Infrastructure - will be formed with the aim of giving both the operating arm of KTZ and third-party operators equal access to the network.

The ministry says that unbundling KTZ will make the country’s rail infrastructure more responsive to the needs of customers and more able to adapt to changes in pricing.