Astana LRT is now Tarlan Astana - CTS explains what will happen to travel cards

Tengrinews.kz — Astana’s light rail transit (LRT) system was recently given the official name Tarlan Astana. When will the infrastructure be updated, will there be new transit cards, and how much will it cost? City Transportation Systems (CTS) provided answers to these questions for Tengrinews.kz.
Naming, not renaming
"When is the entire infrastructure of the light rail system scheduled to be updated following the name change?" we asked.
In response, CTS corrected our phrasing regarding a "name change" and stated the following:

"This is not a renaming, but the assignment of an official name. It is being carried out as part of the project. No additional funding is being allocated for these purposes. The work will be carried out in stages."

Over the many years of the project's existence, residents of the capital have grown accustomed to the name Astana LRT. However, as it turns out, this was never an official name; it merely referred to the type of transport found worldwide, known as LRT or, for example, an elevated metro.
Speaking of names: even after the introduction of Tarlan Astana, signs reading "Astana LRT".
Photo: Tengrinews.kz/ Nurlan Alzhabayev
What about the transit cards?
New transit cards are on the way. According to CTS, a new design for the transport card is currently under development.

"Passengers will continue to use cards purchased prior to the determination of the project's official name," CTS said in response to an official inquiry from the editorial office.

Essentially, if you have already bought and topped up a card, there is no need to throw it away; it remains valid. In the future, such a card could even be kept as a souvenir of a piece of history.
Why was Tarlan Astana introduced only now?
Why was the LRT given an official name only after its launch? CTS responded that the decision to approve the name Tarlan Astana was made "within the framework of procedures established by law.".

"The matter of the official naming was finalized after passing all necessary approvals required by legislation," the company added.

Why the LRT project needed a name
In June, Astana Maslikhat deputy Baurzhan Kasymbergebaev explained that it was decided to name the LRT so that tourists and guests of the capital would associate the brand with Kazakhstan.
According to him, "LRT" is a technical term for a type of transport, whereas in many countries, light rail systems have their own unique names that are more recognizable and familiar to residents.
When asked if the naming was an attempt to distance the project from its years of controversy and scandal, he admitted that this was a factor. However, according to the deputy, it was not the primary goal.
Read also: New LRT construction spotted in Astana – photos