During the initial years of constructing the railway station, the site was located on the Turksib Krasnogvardeysky tract, on the grounds of a former furniture factory. However, following a proposal by the engineer
Mukhamedzhan Tynyshpaev, the project was relocated to Starokladbischenskaya Street (now Abylai Khan Avenue), the site of an old cemetery. The cemetery was cleared, making way for a station square, which later became a hub for tram and trolleybus services. This redevelopment marked the beginning of a new avenue in
Almaty. The railway station square holds its own distinct history. In 1954, a monument to
Abai Qunanbaiuly was installed, followed by a monument to
Mikhail Kalinin in 1972, which was removed in 1992 following Kazakhstan's independence. In 2000, an
equestrian sculpture monument to
Abylai Khan was erected and remains a prominent feature of the square. Surrounding the square, residential and public buildings were constructed, enhancing the area’s urban landscape. Until 1941, the railway station and its facilities were built according to a standard design. During the early years of World War II, the east side of the station building was completed. The building’s façade featured semi-circular projections with large window panes at the entrance. A notable sculptural composition, created by Czech sculptor Bogomil Vahek—exiled to Almaty during
Joseph Stalin’s regime—adorned the station. The figures symbolized success, industry, agriculture, and the
Soviet Union. Tragically, many of the architects, engineers, and designers involved in the station’s construction were repressed and executed during the
Great Purge. In 1977, the station underwent extensive reconstruction, including the addition of a west wing. These renovations addressed technological issues and modernized the building’s interior and exterior design. The station continues to serve as a significant landmark and a reflection of Almaty’s evolving history. == Trains and destinations ==