Kazakhstan Temir Zholy (KTZ) has banned all freight loading to China via Dostyk from December 12 to 15. The restrictions are due to a sharp deterioration in weather conditions on the Beskol-Dostyk section, which has reduced train operations from 20 to 9 per day.
If the situation improves, the ban will be lifted.
According to the KTZ press service, on December 10, a northwesterly wind increased at Dostyk station, reaching speeds exceeding 20 meters per second. Visibility was zero due to a snowstorm. Due to the unusual weather conditions, shunting operations at Dostyk station were temporarily suspended on the evening of December 10. 114 railway workers were deployed to clear the snow.
"Gale-force winds with gusts of up to 30 meters per second also caused difficulties with train and shunting operations on the Beskol-Dostyk section and at Dostyk station itself, forcing freight traffic in this direction to be restricted. "Furthermore, due to deteriorating weather conditions on the Shu-Shyganak and Shokpar-Alaigyr railway sections, train speeds have been reduced to ensure safe passage," the national company reported.
KTZ also noted that the Altynkol-Khorgos border crossing is operating normally.