Rail transport in Turkey

{{Excerpt|History of rail transport in Turkey}}

{{see also|Turkish_State_Railways#Network}}

File:YHT train at Ankara railway station.jpg at the ATG terminal in Ankara]]

File:Ankara_Tren_Garı.jpg terminal in Ankara is a hub for the YHT services of the Turkish State Railways]]

In 2022, Turkey had {{Convert|12532|km|abbr=on}} of railway lines, of which 95% were single-tracked,8697km of lines 21% of the network was electrified and 28% signalled. Due to the mountainous geography of the country, the network has many steep gradients and sharp curves.[http://www.euromedtransport.org/fileadmin/download/maincontract/tf/TF_R_RTransport_21Nov08/PPP_Rail_Transport_Turkey.pdf Presentation of the Rail Transport:Turkey] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522222201/http://www.euromedtransport.org/fileadmin/download/maincontract/tf/TF_R_RTransport_21Nov08/PPP_Rail_Transport_Turkey.pdf |date=22 May 2019 }} Tevfik Muhammed, engineer, Turkish State Railways (TCDD), 21 November 2008 www.euromedtransport.org The Turkish rail network does not cover all major cities; its fourth and fifth largest metropolitan areas of Bursa and Antalya respectively remain unconnected to the network, although plans exist for high-speed rail lines to reach them.

As of June 2016, there is {{Convert|8334|km|abbr=on}} of conventional railway line and {{Convert|593|km|abbr=on}} of high-speed railway line. {{Convert|2288|km|abbr=on}} of the network is electrified (31%), and {{Convert|3036|km|abbr=on}} of it is signaled (37%).Turkish State Railways Annual Statistics 2010–2014

Electrified lines run from Kapıkule on the Bulgarian border via Istanbul to Ankara, and from Divriği via Malatya to İskenderun on the Mediterranean coast. Additionally, Sivas and İzmir have electrified networks.

Here are some technical informations (standards) about the Turkish railway system:{{Cn|date=October 2024}}

• Rail Gauge – {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}}
• Electrification – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC Overhead lines
• Loading gauge – UIC GC
• Traffic – Right-Hand traffic
• Pantograph – {{Convert|195|cm|abbr=on}} (Old) and {{Convert|160|cm|abbr=on}} (New, Rebuilt and High-speed lines)
• Rail – S49 (Old) and UIC 60 (New, Rebuilt and High-speed lines)
• Sleepers – Wooden & Steel (Old) and Concrete (New, Rebuilt and High-speed lines)
• Fastening – Baseplate based with Screw spikes (Old) and Tension Clamp (New, Rebuilt and High-speed lines)
• Platform height – {{Convert|38|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} (Low platforms), {{Convert|55|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} (High-speed trains' platforms) and {{Convert|105|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} (Commuter rail platforms)
• Coupling – Buffers and Chains (Locomotives and Passenger cars) and Scharfenberg (MUs)
• Brake – Air
• Curve minimum – {{convert|200|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|3500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (High-speed lines)

{{Main|High-speed rail in Turkey}}

File:Rail transport map of Turkey-m.png

The first completed section of the high-speed rail line between Ankara and Eskişehir was opened by the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 13 March 2009.[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//turkey-high-speed-launch.html Turkey high speed launch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604035951/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/turkey-high-speed-launch.html |date=4 June 2012 }} 13 March 2009 railwaygazette.com

As of August 2024, there are eight high-speed routes (Istanbul-Ankara, Istanbul-Konya, Istanbul-Karaman, Istanbul-Sivas Ankara-Eskisehir, Ankara-Konya, Ankara-Karaman, Ankara-Sivas) running on three different high-speed railway lines. Bursa, Izmir and Edirne are among some of other cities to be connected to the high-speed network with works being underway.In the Ottoman Empire: some parts of lines extending into the middle east would not be incorporated into the Turkish State on its creation Bursa will be connected to the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway, a new line is currently being constructed from Polatlı to İzmir via Afyon is under construction along with some other lines from Yerköy (on the line from Ankara to Sivas) to Kayseri and another one from Halkalı to Edirne on Turkey's European border with Bulgaria.

In addition to high speed lines, there are several regular trains for passenger transportation. Almost all the network is covered by these passenger trains, which are mostly departing every day.Uysal, Onur. [http://railturkey.org/2014/03/05/traveling-by-train-in-turkey/ "Traveling by Train in Turkey"], Rail Turkey, 5 March 2014 In addition to high speed trains, there are several types of wagons being used for railway transport like pulman, sleeping cars, couchette, dmu and emu sets. In 2019, 164.7 million passengers used the Turkish rail network.{{cite web|url= https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/9/97/Rail_passenger_transport_by_type_of_transport_for_main_undertakings%2C_2018-2019_%28thousand_passengers%29.png|title= Rail passenger transport by type of transport for main undertakings, 2018–2019 (thousand passengers)|website=ec.europa.eu|access-date=24 September 2021}}

As of May 2016, there are several construction points (mainly for signalization or electrification) in Turkish rail network which is causing complete or partial closures.Uysal, Onur. [http://railturkey.org/2014/05/16/railway-closure-program-2014/ "Where is Closed in Turkish Railways?"], Rail Turkey, 16 May 2014

{{See also|Turkish_State_Railways#Railway_links_with_adjacent_countries}}

• {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Bulgaria – open – {{RailGauge|sg}} – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC
• {{flagicon|Greece}} Greece – open – {{RailGauge|sg}} – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC (but no trains running since February 2011 due to economic crisis in Greece)

• {{flagicon|Georgia}} Georgia – open – break-of-gauge {{RailGauge|sg}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}} at Akhalkalaki (Georgia)
• {{flagicon|Armenia}} Armenia – closed – break-of-gauge {{RailGauge|sg}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}} (see the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway line)Railway Gazette International – January 2008 p51
• {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} Azerbaijan – no direct link – break-of-gauge {{RailGauge|sg}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}} via Georgia (see the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway line), via Iran (toward Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic).
• {{flagicon|Iran}} Iran – via Lake Van train ferry – {{RailGauge|sg}}

• {{flagicon|Iraq}} Iraq – no direct link, traffic routed via Syria – {{RailGauge|sg}}
• {{flagicon|Syria}} Syria – closed because of the Syrian civil war – {{RailGauge|sg}}

Trains to Iraq must be routed via Syria; the section of the tracks within Syria, between the Turkish and Iraqi borders is 81 km long. From 5 March 2012 due to the civil war in Syria, all rail services from Turkey to Syria were stopped; as a consequence freight going from Turkey to Iraq was routed to Nusaybin in southeast Turkey, from where it was transported to Iraq by truck.{{citation| url = http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/no-turkish-trains-arrive-in-syria-iraq-for-months.aspx?pageID=238&nID=31058&NewsCatID=344| title= No Turkish Trains Arrive in Syria, Iraq for Months| first = Ali| last = Kayalar|work =www.hurriyetdailynews.com|date = 27 September 2012|publisher =Hurriyet Daily News}}

The Iranian rail network is connected to the Turkish rail network via the Lake Van train ferry close to the border – which creates a serious bottleneck.[http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/ppp/reports/Turkey2001.pdf Country report of Republic of Turkey in the field of transport and telecommunication] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607183343/http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/ppp/reports/Turkey2001.pdf |date=7 June 2011 }} page 3, United Nations Economic and Social commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) www.unescap.orgNot only do trains need to be split for ferry transport, but the 91km water journey takes 5 hours. (See [http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/Publications/TIS_pubs/tarsc_fulltext.pdf Economic and social commissioner for Asia and the Pacific: Development of the Trans-Asian Railway in the southern corridor of Asia-Europe routes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419053801/http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/Publications/TIS_pubs/tarsc_fulltext.pdf |date=19 April 2011 }} United Nations, page 42, Peter Hodgkinson www.unescap.org In 2007 an agreement was made to create a rail link between the two countries.[http://yenisafak.com.tr/English/?t=27.07.2007&i=58392 Turkey, Iran agree on joint railway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023143222/http://yenisafak.com.tr/English/?t=27.07.2007&i=58392 |date=23 October 2012 }} 27 July 2007 yenisafak.com.tr

A new connection to the Caucasus region and Central Asia via Georgia and Azerbaijan is planned (see the Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway); the line will involve a break of gauge from {{RailGauge|1435mm}} to {{RailGauge|1520mm}}. The construction of the line is planned to be completed by 2014 and has a target of transporting 17 million tons of cargo per year.Uysal, Onur. [http://railturkey.org/2013/06/15/baku-tbilisi-kars-railway/ "Baku Tbilisi Kars Railway to be Opened in 2014"], Rail Turkey, 15 June 2013 This railway by-passes the Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway line that connected Turkey to Armenia which was closed in 1993[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/studies/download.do?file=18288 The closed Armenia-Turkey border:Economic and social effects, including those on the people; and implications for the overall situation in the region] Study produced for the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee on Development, Author :Nathalie Tocci, Co-authors: Burcu Gültekin-Punsmann, Licínia Simão, Nicolas Tavitian, August 2007, (specifics p14) www.europarl.europa.eu during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War; in 2009 the possibility of re-opening the line was stated by the Armenian transport minister.[http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20091111/39178/ Armenia-Turkey railway network may be launched in couple of days] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819225629/http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20091111/39178 |date=19 August 2010 }} 11 November 2009 www.armtown.com

Suburban systems in Turkey as listed below:

Six cities in Turkey have Metro/LRT system, listed as follows:

A further one more metro system is planned in Gaziantep,and a premetro system is also planned in Kayseri.

There are also several tram systems in many cities, listed as follows:

{{Main|Turkish State Railways}}

In combination with its affiliates, the State Railways of the Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları, TCDD) have a monopoly on passengerExcluding urban mass transit systems, and tram networks. and freight rail transportation, as well as the manufacturing of rolling stock and tracks.[http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2009/08/13/000333038_20090813012054/Rendered/PDF/499350PID0TUR01ture0rev0Box0341971B.pdf Project information document (PID) : Railways restructuring project (Turkey)] World Bank, 2009, www-wds.worldbank.org The organization was created in 1927 to operate the former railway lines of the Ottoman Empire that were left within the borders of the Republic of Turkey whose boundaries were defined with the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Additionally, major ports are also operated by the company.

Three affiliated companies of the TCDD produce rolling stock for the Turkish railway system:

• TÜLOMSAŞ (Türkiye Lokomotif ve Motor Sanayi A.Ş.) produces diesel and electric locomotives and related components; the company has produced locomotives under license from numerous companies over the years, including Krauss-Maffei, GM-EMD, Toshiba and Alstom.[http://www.tulomsas.com.tr/upload/dosya/77.pdf TÜLOMSAŞ Company brochure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229044714/http://www.tulomsas.com.tr/upload/dosya/77.pdf |date=29 December 2009 }} www.tulomsas.com.tr
• TÜVASAŞ (Türkiye Vagon Sanayi A.Ş.) manufactures coaching stock as well as diesel hydraulic railcars,[http://www.tuvasas.com.tr/ TUVASAS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125092352/http://www.tuvasas.com.tr/ |date=25 November 2007 }} Company website www.tuvasas.com[http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-World-Railways/Tuvasas-Manufacturers-and-services--Locomotives-and-passenger-vehicles-Turkey.html Tuvasas, Manufacturers and services – Locomotives and passenger vehicles (Turkey)] www.janes.com and has a technology transfer agreement with Rotem of Korea to manufacture DMUs[http://www.hyundai-rotem.co.kr/Common/uFileDownload.asp?Idx=9&Fgbn=1&Brd=EngWebzine Hyundai Rotem newsletter No.15] page 2, 2008, www.hyundai-rotem.co.kr as well as a joint venture with Rotem, EUROTEM, to outfit and test high-speed train sets and suburban trains.[http://www.rotem.co.kr/Common/uFileDownload.asp?Idx=10&Fgbn=1&Brd=EngWebzine Hyundai Rotem newsletter No.16] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226075655/http://www.rotem.co.kr/Common/uFileDownload.asp?Idx=10&Fgbn=1&Brd=EngWebzine |date=26 February 2012 }} page 3, 2009, www.hyundai-rotem.co.kr[http://www.tumgazeteler.com/?a=2272495 İlk hızlı tren fabrikası üretime başlıyor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717114236/http://www.tumgazeteler.com/?a=2272495 |date=17 July 2011 }} Plant begins production of the first high speed train, October 2008, www.tumgazeteler.com
• TÜDEMSAŞ (Türkiye Demiryolu Makinaları Sanayii A.Ş.) produces and repairs freight wagons.[http://www.tudemsas.gov.tr/ TÜDEMSAŞ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512202026/http://tudemsas.gov.tr/ |date=12 May 2018 }} Company website www.tudemsas.gov.tr

As of 2021, there were {{Convert|10546|km|4=0|abbr=on}} of main railway lines in Turkey, of which 14% are double-track and 51% are electrified.[https://uic.org/IMG/pdf/uic-railway-statistics-synopsis-2022.pdf UIC Railway Statistics Synopsis 2022] uic.org

In 2008, the most common rail weight is ~49 kg/m with 69% of track, the remainder being of lighter weight rail, except for 150 km of 60 kg/m rail. Similarly, 69% of sleepers are of the concrete type, with the remainder being wood (~19%) and steel (~12%). Over 700 tunnels exist, with a total length of 181 km; the majority (~76%) are under 1 km long and only one of them has a length of over 4 km. 1,316 steel bridges (average length 22 m) and over 10,000 concrete bridges (average length 2.9 m) exist, the majority (99%) are suitable for axle loads over 20 t, with 40% allowing axle loads of 22.5 tonnes.[http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/kurumsal/TCDDANNUALREPORT2008.pdf TCDD annual report 2008] www.tcdd.gov.tr

Also in 2008, there were 64 electric locomotives and 549 diesel locomotives in Turkey, with availabilities of 81 and 84 percent, respectively. Additionally, 50 steam locomotives exist, of which 2 are kept in active order. In addition to the 83 EMUs and 44 DMUs for passenger transport, there were 995 coaches in Turkey (830 of which were in working order.) Over 17,000 wagons of various types make up the rest of the fleet.

All high-speed and main rail lines use standard-gauge railway with the exception of the Bursa and Istanbul nostalgic tramways, which use the metre-gauge railway.

• Kars to Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan{{Cite web |date=9 May 2010 |title=Turkey Plans to Construct Rail Line Linking Azerbaijan |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/news/news84538.html?WT.mc_id=DN_News}}

{{Commons category|Rail transport in Turkey}}

• Çamlık Railway Museum
• TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive Museum
• Istanbul Railway Museum
• Rahmi M. Koç Museum

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em|

• Rail transport in Turkey
• Ankara Suburban Railway
• Haydarpaşa Terminal
• High-speed rail in Turkey
• Istanbul-Damascus-Medina Railway
• Istanbul-Konya-Baghdad Railway
• Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway
• List of railway stations in Turkey
• List of TCDD routes
• List of train accidents in Turkey
• Orient Express
• Sirkeci Terminal

}}

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{{Asia in topic|Rail transport in}}

{{Rail transport in Europe}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rail Transport In Turkey}}