Trains in Kazakhstan 2026: How to Buy Tickets Cheaper and More Comfortably Than by Plane

In 2026 the train is often cheaper than the plane: on the Almaty–Astana route a coupe ticket costs 15–22 thousand tenge, while a flight starts from 25–40 thousand. Plus you get more free baggage, a comfortable sleep and no airport queues.

In this article — only working ways to buy KTZ train tickets cheaper: official website, aggregators, current 25% discounts (April 2026) and lifehacks to save up to 50% and choose the most comfortable carriage.

• Price: the train is almost always 30–50% cheaper (especially platzkart and coupe).
• Baggage: up to 25–35 kg free (depending on the train type), while planes have strict limits and extra fees.
• Comfort: you can lie down, work and eat — the trip takes 13–19 hours, but without airport stress.
• Time: the plane is faster, but when you add the trip to the airport and check-in, the real difference is often only 4–6 hours.

Conclusion for 2026: for distances up to 1000–1200 km (Almaty–Astana, Almaty–Shymkent) the train wins in both price and comfort.

• bilet.railways.kz — official KTZ website, no commission.
• Tickets.kz — convenient search, honest prices, app, Kaspi payment.
• Freedom Travel / Aviata.kz and Avion.kz — often show all options at once.

Best order: first check Tickets.kz, then go to the official site and compare the final price.

In April 2026 KTZ offers a 25% discount on upper berths for popular routes (Petropavlovsk–Almaty, Almaty–Mangystau, Astana–Kyzylorda).

General rule: the earlier you buy, the cheaper it is. 45–15 days before departure prices are at their lowest. During high season (summer, holidays) book 1–2 months in advance.

• Platzkart — the cheapest option (from 5–10 thousand tenge).
• Coupe (2D, tourist) — best price/comfort ratio (15–22 thousand).
• Talgo — modern carriages, faster and cleaner, but more expensive.
• Lux / SV — for maximum comfort (25–35 thousand).

Lower berths are always more expensive and sell out faster.

• Regular trains — up to 35 kg hand luggage (200 cm total).
• Talgo — up to 25 kg (150 cm).
• Excess weight is paid (from 27 to 57 tenge per kg depending on the route).

Baby strollers, disassembled bicycles and kayaks travel free if they fit in the designated space.

1. Choose your date and flexible ±3 days.
2. Open Tickets.kz and bilet.railways.kz.
3. Compare prices for all carriage types.
4. Choose upper berths or book early to get the discount.
5. Pay with Kaspi Red card (cashback).
6. Save the electronic ticket on your phone (QR code).
7. Arrive at the station 30–40 minutes before departure.

Useful materials on zhivem.kz:

• Cheap flights: how to buy cheaper
• Supermarkets Kazakhstan 2026
• Food and grocery delivery 2026
• Cashback and installments
• Currency exchange and fee-free transfers

In 2026 the train across Kazakhstan is one of the most profitable and comfortable ways to travel. Book early on Tickets.kz or bilet.railways.kz, catch the 25% discounts, choose a coupe instead of a plane — and save thousands of tenge with much more comfort.