CHARME sleeping coaches entered service in Kazakhstan
posted on 11th Nov 2026 14:46
On 11 November 2026, KTZ put the first CHARME coaches from Stadler into service, over a 1,300 km route between the country's largest cities, Astana and Almaty. The train operates daily as service No. 3/4, running from Astana Nurly Zhol (departing at 13.10) to Almaty-2 (arriving the following day at 08.30). In the opposite direction, the train departs from Almaty-2 at 12.12 and arrives at Astana Nurly Zhol station at 07.03 the following day.
The delivery and commissioning mark an important milestone in the long-term collaboration between Kazakhstan Railways and Stadler. The contract covers the production of 557 sleeping coaches and its maintenance for the next 20 years. Deliveries will continue through the end of 2030. By October 2026, KTZ took delivery of 103 CHARME coaches. And this figure is expected to reach 142 by the end of 2026.
From 13 November 2026, CHARME cars will be introduced on trains 153/154, running between Astana Nurly Zhol and Semey (north-east of the country). The train operates on odd-numbered days: departing from Nurly Zhol at 16.40 and arriving at Semey at 06.10 the following day. In the opposite direction, it departs from Semey at 15.00 and arrives in Astana at 05.05 the following day.
As in the past, the train will include cars reserved for women. Tickets for these carriages are available exclusively to women, and they are staffed solely by female attendants. Boys under the age of seven are also permitted to travel in these cars. Tickets are priced the same as those for standard carriages of the corresponding category.
The fleet includes compartment coaches with 40 passenger beds, open-plan sleeping coaches (platzkartny) with 58 passenger beds, and PRM coaches with 18 passenger beds, including dedicated accommodation for passengers with reduced mobility and bistro zone. They are designed to operate in temperatures ranging from -50 °C to +45 °C. The fleet is complemented by generator coaches that provide power on non-electrified routes.
Passengers benefit from individual lighting and temperature control panels, 220V power outlets, USB and USB-C charging ports, onboard Wi-Fi, CCTV, and expanded luggage space. Inspired by Kazakhstan's natural landscapes, the interior design creates a welcoming atmosphere, while accessibility features ensure a more inclusive and comfortable travel experience.
The original contract includes the transfer of technology from Switzerland to Kazakhstan and the acquisition of a local production facility in Astana. During the last years, the plant underwent modernization, with the company investing more than 5 billion Tenge (around 9 million CHF) in its reconstruction, while local specialists received training at Stadler production sites in Europe.
Today, Stadler Kazakhstan's production facility in Astana has localized key technological operations, including steel bodyshell welding and painting, the manufacture of electrical equipment and underfloor components, bogie production, the installation of pneumatic and electrical systems. The assembly and commissioning of the rail vehicles manufactured at the site also take place in Astana.
This year Stadler is expanding its production site in Astana by investing more than 14 billion Tenge (around 25 million CHF) in the construction of aluminum bodyshell welding and painting workshops. This will be the first highly automated facility in Central Asia dedicated to the production of aluminum bodyshells. The company currently employs more than 700 local specialists, and the new workshops are expected to create 100 additional jobs. Stadler Group’s total investment in Kazakhstan between 2023 and 2031 will amount to at least 29.5 billion Tenge (around 53 million CHF).
