Abstract
This study examines how the integration of leadership strategies and project management methodologies can enhance safety in Kazakhstan's railway maintenance systems. The study aims to develop recommendations for a comprehensive strategic model that integrates digitalization, risk management, and leadership development to support a sustainable safety culture. A mixed-methods approach is employed, combining content analysis, conceptual modeling, and statistical indicators to compare international and national practices. The results suggest that railway systems characterized by higher digital maturity and coordinated institutional governance demonstrate substantially lower incident rates compared with systems where training, safety governance, and digital monitoring practices remain fragmented. The findings suggest that leadership plays a mediating role between digital technologies and employee behavior, thereby supporting proactive safety management. The proposed integrated strategic safety management model provides a practical reference framework for potential implementation within KTZ divisions and contractor organizations. The study's novelty lies in adapting best practices to Kazakhstan’s national railway context and in conceptualizing a leadership-oriented safety management paradigm grounded in digital transformation and strategic alignment. The practical significance of the study lies in the potential application of the proposed model in the development of state programs and corporate strategies aimed at improving the safety of railway maintenance systems.