Astana railway stations: Nurly Zhol and Astana-1
Astana has two railway stations. Nurly Zhol is the newer terminus: most trains start and finish there, almost all Talgo services included. Astana-1 is the old station on the right bank, used by through and commuter trains.
Mixing them up is costly: the stations are 16.1 km and about 22 min apart without traffic. The station name is printed on your ticket — check it before you set off, not at the door.
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Which station is yours
Astana Nurly Zhol
8 Mukhamedzhan Tynyshbayuly St
The newer station, opened on 1 June 2017. A terminus: most trains start and finish here, and almost all Talgo services use it.
Astana-1
Goethe St, Saryarka district
The old station on the right bank. Through trains and many commuter services call here; the Saparzhay bus station is 300 metres away.
The station name is on your ticket. «Astana Nurly Zhol» and «Astana-1» are different addresses in different parts of the city, not two entrances to one building.
How far the stations are
| Station | From the airport | From the centre |
|---|---|---|
| Astana Nurly Zhol | 19.5 km · 26 min | 9.3 km · 15 min |
| Astana-1 | 22.6 km · 29 min | 9.8 km · 13 min |
Road routes from OpenStreetMap data (OSRM), times without traffic, measured on 2026-09-23. Distances from the centre are measured from Baiterek.
A transfer to and from the train
The price is quoted individually: vehicle class, pickup time, day of the week, luggage and a child seat. A city ride starts from 12 000 ₸. It is fixed when the order is confirmed and does not rise afterwards.
If your train arrives at night, book ahead: there are fewer taxis at the station and app prices are higher. How the airport meeting works — the meeting and waiting rules are described there.
Frequently asked questions
How does Nurly Zhol differ from Astana-1?
Nurly Zhol is the newer terminus, opened in 2017: most trains start and end there, almost all Talgo services among them. Astana-1 is the older station used by through trains and many commuter services. Some trains call at both.
How far apart are the stations?
16.1 km by road, about 22 min without traffic. Longer at rush hour, so allow at least an hour if you have to change stations.
How far is Nurly Zhol from the airport?
19.5 km by road, about 26 min without traffic. Astana-1 is 22.6 km away, about 29 min.
How much is a transfer to the station?
The price is quoted individually — by vehicle class, pickup time and day of the week. A ride within the city starts from 12 000 ₸. The manager gives the exact amount when confirming the order.
Each ride is priced individually; the amount is fixed when the order is confirmed.