Large map of the Astana metro

Although Astana has long planned to build a metro system, the Kazakh capital remains one of the largest cities in the world without an operational rapid transit network. Proposals for an underground railway date back to the 1980s, but the city's relatively small population at the time and the high construction costs prevented the project from moving forward. Instead, Astana has focused on developing its public transport network through buses and, more recently, the Astana Light Rail project. Construction of the light rail system began in 2011 but was suspended for several years because of financial and legal difficulties before resuming in the early 2020s. Once completed, the first line will connect Astana International Airport with the city centre and the new railway station, providing a modern high-capacity transit system for Kazakhstan's rapidly growing capital.