Railway transport corridors as an alternative and complement to water routes in international logistics

Abstract

Railway transport corridors play a key role in international trade, connecting countries and continents. The article analyzes the importance of these routes, their impact on the economy and logistics, as well as key problems and development prospects. Special attention is paid to the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TMTM), the Northern Corridor and the New Silk Road. Special attention is paid to their interaction with water transport, the potential for replacing traditional sea routes such as the Suez Canal, as well as the advantages of rail transportation in conditions of geopolitical and climatic instability. Their advantages, infrastructural limitations and the influence of geopolitical factors are investigated. The statistical indicators of freight transportation growth were also studied, and the main barriers, including administrative, tariff, and infrastructural restrictions, were identified. The prospects for development, including the modernization of the railway network, digitalization of logistics and the introduction of environmentally sustainable technologies, are considered. The main focus is on the advantages of rail transportation, such as high load capacity, reliability, safety, cost-effectiveness and weather resistance, which makes rail transport an important element of international logistics. The role of railway corridors in improving Kazakhstan's transit potential is also emphasized, and it is concluded that it is important to integrate international efforts to improve the efficiency of rail transport and its competitiveness in the global market.