VZhDO is implementing a digital safety model

30-10-2025

The Military Railway Guard (VZhDO), the only security agency within the NC KTZ JSC system that ensures the physical and technical security of strategic rail facilities and cargo, is implementing a large-scale digital transformation. This was announced by Nurzhan Alkeyev, General Director of VZhDO, at a regular media meeting on the Burabay Express electric train.

The new strategy calls for the active implementation of modern monitoring and control technologies, radically changing the approach to protecting railway facilities and cargo. The central element of the digital reform will be the creation of an Operational Control Center (OCC), integrating branches, checkpoints, and dispatch services into a single information space.

This will enable real-time monitoring of train movements, planned service windows, and high-risk areas, and promptly enhance security. VZhDO is moving from passive response to active risk prevention—anticipating potential threats and more efficiently allocating resources to ensure security at all stages of transportation.

At the same time, the intelligent QORGAU system is being implemented—a key element of the future digital security model, developed by domestic specialists specifically for the needs of the railway industry. The system automates a number of work processes, reduces rolling stock inspection time by a third, and eliminates outdated paperwork.

 

A mobile app will be implemented for VZhDO employees, allowing them to receive instructions, record train arrivals and departures, manage escorts, and interact with the Operations Control Center online. The app's functionality will be expanded to include dispatching, payroll, and a Help Desk service, ensuring the complete digitalization of the security process.

The project will centralize management, improve the accuracy of analysis and forecasting, and minimize the impact of human error.

Furthermore, VZhDO plans for 2026 include the introduction of aerial patrols using unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) equipped with artificial intelligence technologies. These will promptly identify suspicious activity and potentially dangerous areas along the railway tracks, reducing reliance on the physical presence of employees and increasing the effectiveness of surveillance.

Another important innovation will be the introduction of GPS seals, allowing for real-time tracking of train movements and cargo status. If a container's integrity is compromised, the system automatically transmits a signal to the central control panel, ensuring an immediate response from mobile teams.

Plans also include installing video surveillance systems with intelligent analytics and introducing digital video tokens that provide continuous video and audio recording for subsequent analysis. Video tokens will increase operational transparency and provide an objective evidence base for security audits.

The history of VZhDO LLC dates back to 1921, when the first rifle teams were created to protect strategic rail facilities and cargo. Today, the company has evolved from small armed units to a modern security force, whose primary mission is to ensure the security of railway infrastructure and transportation.

Key areas of reform include establishing equal pay and benefits for VZhDO employees with other KTZ divisions, modernizing uniforms and special equipment to accommodate the region's climate, and equipping units with all-terrain vehicles, which has significantly improved response times in hard-to-reach areas.

VZhDO actively collaborates with government agencies, including the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Ministry of Emergency Situations, to improve the legal framework and expand the powers of its security personnel. The company operates a mentoring program, where experienced employees share knowledge and practical skills with young specialists. Joint training exercises with the police are regularly held to improve preparedness for potential incidents.

In October 2025, a month-long preventive campaign was conducted jointly with the Ministry of Internal Affairs, during which a number of violations near railway tracks were identified and prevented. Work is underway with government agencies and parliamentary representatives to amend the laws "On Security" and "On Railway Transport" to consolidate the special status of VZhDO LLC and ensure continuous security, including at terminals, temporary storage facilities, and private carrier sites.

VZhDO employees reliably perform their duties and respond promptly to incidents. For example, an employee of the Pavlodar branch provided first aid to a KTZ employee injured at a marshalling yard. Security teams at the Karaganda and Taraz branches prevented the theft of fuel and scrap metal, and at the Akmola branch, an employee prevented a major fire near tanks containing flammable materials.

Today, VZhDO LLC comprises 11 branches, 56 rifle teams, 27 rifle groups, and over 7,000 employees working around the clock across the country's rail network, including at terminals, bridges, and administrative buildings. Employees accompany cargo along all main routes, including the China-Europe international transit corridor, ensuring the continuity of service and the safety of shipments.
 

Press service of JSC «NC«Kazakhstan Temir Zholy»