Kazakh students revolutionize railway engineering with patented designs

ASTANA, Kazakhstan (MNTV) — Two 11th-grade students from an Astana-based physics and mathematics lyceum have developed four groundbreaking types of rail joints, earning national patents and international recognition for their contribution to railway technology.

Dinmukhamed Matay and Amir Zhanibek created designs aimed at reducing noise, wear, and accident risks while cutting maintenance costs. 

Guided by their physics teacher, Arnur Kazbekov, the pair’s innovations are now under review by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva.

The idea emerged during a train journey to a robotics competition in Almaty, where the constant clatter of the wheels inspired their research. 

“We couldn’t sleep because of the sound,” Amir said. “Later, we learned it comes from small gaps between rails that prevent deformation but cause vibration.”

After a year of research and testing, the students designed four solutions, including a lateral lap joint that divides the thermal gap, reducing wheel dips and vibrations. 

Another design allows for upgrading old tracks without complete replacement, while two additional patents introduce insert-type joints and bridge components suited for both high-speed and conventional lines.

“While keeping the thermal gap, we removed the break between rails — creating a continuous line,” said Kazbekov. “This reduces noise, wear, and energy loss, especially useful in Kazakhstan’s extreme climate.”

The students’ inventions received four national patents this summer, confirming the originality of their designs. Their achievements have also drawn attention from Kazakhstan Temir Zholy, the national railway company, with whom they hope to collaborate or form a startup to commercialize their prototypes.

Beyond railway innovation, Dinmukhamed and Amir have excelled in robotics, winning over ten regional competitions and earning bronze at the International Robotics Olympiad in the United States. Amir also studied for a year in the U.S. through the FLEX exchange program.

From a noisy train ride to global patent filings, the two students have demonstrated that world-class innovation can begin in a Kazakh classroom — driven by curiosity, collaboration, and a commitment to progress.