# Almaty 2 railway station

The Almaty 2 or Almaty-2 (Kazakh: Алматы 2) is one of the oldest railway stations located in Almaty, Kazakhstan. The station serves an average daily footfall of approximately 5,000 passengers, which increases to around 10,000 during the summer months due to heightened travel demand.
The Almaty 2 functions as a major transportation hub, facilitating departures and arrivals in all directions. It is particularly vital for international rail connections, primarily to Russian cities such as Moscow and Saint Petersburg, as well as to Ürümqi in China.
Domestically, the station serves key cities across Kazakhstan, including Astana (the capital), Shymkent, Petropavl, Atyrau, Jezkazgan, Mangystau (Mangyshlak), and Oral.

## History

During the initial years of constructing the railway station, the site was located on the Turksib Krasnogvardeysky tract, on the grounds of a former furniture factory. However, following a proposal by the engineer Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpaev, the project was relocated to Starokladbischenskaya Street (now Abylai Khan Avenue), the site of an old cemetery. The cemetery was cleared, making way for a station square, which later became a hub for tram and trolleybus services. This redevelopment marked the beginning of a new avenue in Almaty.
The railway station square holds its own distinct history. In 1954, a monument to Abai Qunanbaiuly was installed, followed by a monument to Mikhail Kalinin in 1972, which was removed in 1992 following Kazakhstan's independence. In 2000, an equestrian sculpture monument to Abylai Khan was erected and remains a prominent feature of the square. Surrounding the square, residential and public buildings were constructed, enhancing the area’s urban landscape.
Until 1941, the railway station and its facilities were built according to a standard design. During the early years of World War II, the east side of the station building was completed. The building’s façade featured semi-circular projections with large window panes at the entrance. A notable sculptural composition, created by Czech sculptor Bogomil Vahek—exiled to Almaty during Joseph Stalin’s regime—adorned the station. The figures symbolized success, industry, agriculture, and the Soviet Union. Tragically, many of the architects, engineers, and designers involved in the station’s construction were repressed and executed during the Great Purge.
In 1977, the station underwent extensive reconstruction, including the addition of a west wing. These renovations addressed technological issues and modernized the building’s interior and exterior design. The station continues to serve as a significant landmark and a reflection of Almaty’s evolving history.

## Trains and destinations
### Long distance

| Train number | Train name | Destination | Operated by |
| 001/002 | | Tashkent | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 003/004 | | Astana | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 007/008 | Kazakhstan | Saratov | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 008/009 | | Astana | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 010/011 | | Shymkent | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 015/016 | Jetisu | Petropavl | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 025/026 | Aq Sunqar | Shymkent | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 027/028 | | Oral | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 031/032 | | Pavlodar | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 041/042 | | Atyrau | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 073/074 | | Jezkazgan | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 077/078 | | Mangystau | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 087/088 | | Saryagash | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 101/102 | | Astana | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 105/106 | | Petropavl | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 113/114 | | Kazan | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 207/208 | | Astana | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 301/302 | | Novosibirsk | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 337/338 | | Dostyk | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 351/352 | | Oskemen | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 541/542 | | Atyrau | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |
| 847/848 | | Uzynagash | Kazakhstan Temir Joly |

### Suburban destinations

Suburban commuter train (elektrichka) connects Almaty 2 with the towns of Boralday, Aqsengir, Chemolgan, Shyngyldy and Uzynagash.