Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are collaborating on a new ferry project that would allow the transport of up to 120 railway cars in a single crossing. The initiative was announced by Kasym Tlepov, Deputy Chairman of the Railway and Water Transport Committee at the Ministry of Transport of Kazakhstan, during a World Bank Group online event titled “Middle Corridor: Next Stage” on 1 October 2026.
Current ferries operated by ASCO can carry only 44 railcars. As a result, trains between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan must be split: 44 cars are loaded at Kuryk and ferried to Alat, while a second ferry departs Kuryk to pick up the remaining 15–20 cars. The waiting of the first batch at Alat reduces overall efficiency. The new ferries would be able to carry two full trains simultaneously, effectively transporting 120 railcars at once. Tlepov said this would cut port processing times by up to three times and accelerate delivery speeds along the entire route.
In addition to the ferry upgrade, Kazakhstan plans to broaden private sector participation in maritime shipping through a financial leasing program. The program will provide low‑cost financing for businesses to acquire vessels for maritime transport, allowing private companies to operate container shipping alongside the two national operators, Kazmortransflot and Azerbaijan’s ASCO. The project aims to transform the Caspian Sea from a barrier into a connective bridge for rail transport between the two countries.
