Booking and purchase of train tickets in Kazakhstan -
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Almaty 1 Railway Station is not just a transport hub, but a kind of gateway to the city of Almaty. It is from here that many travelers begin to get acquainted with the city, and for the Almaty residents themselves, the station has long been a part of the city's history and an important point in the life of the metropolis. The station is located in the northern lower part of the city and is a starting point throughout Kazakhstan. Almaty also has a second railway station "Almaty-2", which is located closer to the city center and is more easily accessible to residents and visitors of the city.
Today, Almaty-1 is a modern complex with all the necessary infrastructure. There are comfortable waiting rooms, cafes where you can try traditional manti before a long journey, shops with Kazakhstani sweets as a gift and, of course, luggage storage. Be sure to leave your large luggage here if you have a few hours before the train to walk around the area surrounding the station. You can also buy souvenirs and fresh fruits at the train station, especially popular are local apples, which people buy for themselves on the road.
History: from a small station to an architectural symbol
The history of the station is a reflection of the history of Almaty itself. In 1929, a modest station stood on this site, corresponding to the scale of the then city of Vernoye. But even then, it was an important link connecting the southern capital with the rest of the world.
The Almaty-1 railway station was built in the 1970s, during the era of active growth of the city. Its construction began in 1974 and was completed by the middle of the decade. The architects sought to create not just a convenient transport building, but also a symbol of modern Soviet Almaty. Therefore, the architecture combines the rigor of forms, spaciousness and decorative elements — large windows with stained glass, aluminum sashes and light facades.
The station is located not in the center, but in the northern part of Almaty, which was done on purpose: important railway lines connecting Kazakhstan with Russia, Siberia and Central Asia passed here. Over time, a whole residential area grew up around the new station, which still bears the name Station.
How to get there and visit -
The Almaty-1 railway station is located in the city of Almaty in the northernmost part at the address: 1 Stationsionnaya Street, Turksib district, Republic of Kazakhstan.
GPS coordinates: 43°20'27"N 76°56'56"E
Almaty-1 Railway Station has excellent transport accessibility. The most economical way is to use a well–developed public transport network. There is a whole company of buses at your service (including routes № 1, 2, 10, 13, 18, 30, 33, 34, 36, 41, 46, 71, 72, 73, 77, 85, 102, 135, 214, 217, 227, 231, 431, 456) and trolleybus No. 7. For more comfort, you can call a taxi through the app or drive your own car using the parking lot at the train station.
Working hours: 24/7
Contacts: +7 727 296 17 90, + 7 727 296 33 92
The official website of Kazakhstan Railways
Architectural features -
The station building is notable for its monumentality and simplicity. It is built in the traditions of late modernism: straight lines, minimal decorative details, but at the same time a sense of space and light. Inside there are spacious waiting rooms, ticket offices, cafes, and luggage storage. The connection to the platforms is arranged through underpasses. At one time, Almaty-1 was considered one of the most modern railway stations in Kazakhstan.
Special attention was paid to the stained-glass windows decorating the facade. They gave the building a special solemnity and created associations with travel, movement, and the road. Similarly, the facade of the building, with its high arches and austere colonnades, recalls both Soviet modernism and oriental monumentality. This is not just a functional building, but a real architectural monument that sets the tone for the entire journey. For passengers, it has always been not just a train station, but a place where new routes and adventures began.
Legends, the spirit of the place and the romance of the station, and what are the carriages whispering about?
Like any train station, Almaty-1 is shrouded in the romance of the roads. For some, these are memories of their first trip to a big city, for others they are a symbol of youth and student years, when train tickets were the most affordable way to travel. Old-timers of the district recall that in the first years after the opening, the station was considered the "gateway to Siberia": trains departed from here, taking people to work and study.
There is another, more romantic legend. Local workers jokingly (or seriously) claim that the ghost of the very first stationmaster still invisibly keeps order. It doesn't scare, but rather helps – the lost luggage is suddenly found, and the lost tourist suddenly meets the right person. It is a guardian spirit that protects those whose journey is just beginning.
Today, the Almaty-1 railway station is interesting not only as a transport facility, but also as a part of the history of Almaty. Tourists coming here by train can see a different look of the city – working, business, connected with traffic and the road. And for those who love the atmosphere of railways, Almaty-1 will be a real find: it is easy to feel the spirit of travel here, standing on the platform and watching trains arrive in the city from different parts of the country.
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