Rail transport in Turkey
Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Template:Short description Template:Use dmy dates Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Turkey has a state-owned railway system built to standard gauge (Template:RailGauge) which falls under the remit of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The primary rail carrier is the Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları (TCDD) (Turkish State Railways) which is responsible for all long-distance and cross-border freight and passenger trains. A number of other companies operate suburban passenger trains in urban conurbations.
Native railway industry extends to the production of locomotives, passenger vehicles and freight wagons; some vehicles are also produced through licensing agreements and cooperation with foreign countries.
In the early 21st century, major infrastructural projects were realized; such as the construction of a high-speed railway network as well as a tunnel under the Bosphorus strait which connects Europe and Anatolia by rail for the first time.
Turkey is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Turkey is 75.
History
Network
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In 2022, Turkey had Script error: No such module "convert".[1] of railway lines, of which 95% were single-tracked,[note 1] 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.[2] 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 Script error: No such module "convert". of conventional railway line and Script error: No such module "convert". of high-speed railway line. Script error: No such module "convert". of the network is electrified (31%), and Script error: No such module "convert". of it is signaled (37%).[3]
Electrified lines run from Kapıkule on the Bulgarian border via Istanbul to Ankara, and from Divriği via Malatya to İskenderun on the Mediterranean coast.[2] Additionally, Sivas and İzmir have electrified networks. Here are some technical informations (standards) about the Turkish railway system:Script error: No such module "Unsubst".
- Rail Gauge – Template:RailGauge
- Electrification – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC Overhead lines
- Loading gauge – UIC GC
- Traffic – Right-Hand traffic
- Pantograph – Script error: No such module "convert". (Old) and Script error: No such module "convert". (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 – Script error: No such module "convert". (Low platforms), Script error: No such module "convert". (High-speed trains' platforms) and Script error: No such module "convert". (Commuter rail platforms)
- Coupling – Buffers and Chains (Locomotives and Passenger cars) and Scharfenberg (MUs)
- Brake – Air
- Curve minimum – Script error: No such module "convert". and Script error: No such module "convert". (High-speed lines)
High-speed rail lines
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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.[4]
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.[5] 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.[2]
Passenger transport
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.[6] 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.[7]
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.[8]
Railway links with adjacent countries
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West neighboring countries
- Template:Flagicon Bulgaria – open – Template:RailGauge – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC
- Template:Flagicon Greece – open – Template:RailGauge – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC (but no trains running since February 2011 due to economic crisis in Greece)
East neighboring countries
- Template:Flagicon Georgia – open – break-of-gauge Template:RailGauge/Template:RailGauge at Akhalkalaki (Georgia)
- Template:Flagicon Armenia – closed – break-of-gauge Template:RailGauge/Template:RailGauge (see the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway line)[9]
- Template:Flagicon Azerbaijan – no direct link – break-of-gauge Template:RailGauge/Template:RailGauge via Georgia (see the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway line), via Iran (toward Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic).
- Template:Flagicon Iran – via Lake Van train ferry – Template:RailGauge
South neighboring countries
- Template:Flagicon Iraq – no direct link, traffic routed via Syria – Template:RailGauge
- Template:Flagicon Syria – closed because of the Syrian civil war – Template:RailGauge
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.[10]
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.[11][note 2][10] In 2007 an agreement was made to create a rail link between the two countries.[12]
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 Template:RailGauge to Template:RailGauge. 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.[13] This railway by-passes the Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway line that connected Turkey to Armenia which was closed in 1993[14] during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War; in 2009 the possibility of re-opening the line was stated by the Armenian transport minister.[15]
Urban rail
Commuter
Suburban systems in Turkey as listed below:
| City | System | Operator | Electrification | Gauge | Bidirectional traffic | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | Marmaray | TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. | 25 kV, 50 Hz AC Overhead line | Template:RailGauge | Right-hand traffic | |
| Halkalı-Bahçeşehir Rail System | ||||||
| Ankara | Başkentray | |||||
| İzmir | İZBAN | İZBAN A.Ş. | ||||
| Gaziantep | Gaziray | TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. | ||||
| Sakarya | Adaray | |||||
| Konya | Konyaray | Tender phase | ||||
| Afyon | Afray | Planning phase | ||||
| Kayseri | İncesu-Gömeç Rail System | On Hold (Awaiting rolling stock allocation by TCDD) |
Metro
Six cities in Turkey have Metro system, listed as follows:
| City | System | Electrification | Conductor system | Gauge | Bidirectional traffic | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | Istanbul Metro | 750 V DC & 1,500 V DC | Third rail & Overhead line | Template:RailGauge | Right-hand traffic | 3 September 1989 |
| Ankara | Ankara Metro | 750 V DC | Third rail | 20 August 1996 | ||
| İzmir | İzmir Metro | 22 April 2000 | ||||
| Bursa | Bursaray | 1,500 V DC | Overhead line | 24 April 2002 | ||
| Adana | Adana Metro | 750 V DC | 14 May 2010 | |||
| Konya | Konya Metro | 750 V DC ?? | Overhead line ?? | Under construction | ||
| Gebze | Gebze Metro | 750 V DC ?? | Overhead line ?? | Under construction | ||
| Mersin | Mersin Metro | 750 V DC ?? | Overhead line ?? | Under construction |
A further one more metro system is planned in Gaziantep,and semi-metro systems are under consideration in both Antalya and Kayseri.
Tram & Light Rail
There are also several tram and light rail systems in many cities, listed as follows:
| City | System | Electrification | Gauge | Bidirectional traffic | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | Istanbul Tram | 750 V DC Overhead line | Template:RailGauge | Right-hand traffic | 13 June 1992 |
| İzmir | İzmir Tram | 11 April 2017 | |||
| İzmit | Akçaray | 17 June 2017 | |||
| Bursa | Burtram | 13 October 2013 | |||
| Antalya | AntRay | December 2009 | |||
| Konya | Konya Tram | 28 September 1992 | |||
| Gaziantep | Gaziantep Tram | 1 March 2011 | |||
| Kayseri | Kayseray | 1 August 2009 | |||
| Samsun | Samsun Tram | 10 October 2010 | |||
| Trabzon | Trabzon Tram | Planned | Under construction | ||
| Eskişehir | Estram | 750 V DC Overhead line | Template:RailGauge | 24 December 2004 |
Nostalgic tramway
| City | System | Electrification | Conductor system | Gauge | Bidirectional traffic |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Istanbul | Istanbul Tram | 600 V DC | Overhead line | Template:RailGauge | Partially |
| Bursa | Burtram | ? | Partially | ||
| Antalya | Antalya Tram | 600 V DC | Template:RailGauge | Partially | |
| Ankara | Ankara National | ? | ? | Template:RailGauge | No |
Companies
Turkish State Railways
Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In combination with its affiliates, the State Railways of the Republic of Turkey (Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları, TCDD) have a monopoly on passenger[note 3] and freight rail transportation, as well as the manufacturing of rolling stock and tracks.[16] 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.[2]
Affiliated companies
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.[17]
- TÜVASAŞ (Türkiye Vagon Sanayi A.Ş.) manufactures coaching stock as well as diesel hydraulic railcars,[18][19] and has a technology transfer agreement with Rotem of Korea to manufacture DMUs[20] as well as a joint venture with Rotem, EUROTEM, to outfit and test high-speed train sets and suburban trains.[21][22]
- TÜDEMSAŞ (Türkiye Demiryolu Makinaları Sanayii A.Ş.) produces and repairs freight wagons.[23]
Statistical information
As of 2021, there were Script error: No such module "convert". of main railway lines in Turkey, of which 14% are double-track and 51% are electrified.[24]
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.[25]
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.[25]
Rail gauge in Turkey
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.
Proposed lines
- Kars to Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan[26]
See also
- Çamlık Railway Museum
- TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive Museum
- Istanbul Railway Museum
- Rahmi M. Koç Museum
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References and notes
Notes
- ↑ 8697km of lines
- ↑ Not only do trains need to be split for ferry transport, but the 91km water journey takes 5 hours. (See Economic and social commissioner for Asia and the Pacific: Development of the Trans-Asian Railway in the southern corridor of Asia-Europe routes Template:Webarchive United Nations, page 42, Peter Hodgkinson www.unescap.org
- ↑ Excluding urban mass transit systems, and tram networks.
References
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- ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
- ↑ a b c d Presentation of the Rail Transport:Turkey Template:Webarchive Tevfik Muhammed, engineer, Turkish State Railways (TCDD), 21 November 2008 www.euromedtransport.org
- ↑ Turkish State Railways Annual Statistics 2010–2014
- ↑ Turkey high speed launch Template:Webarchive 13 March 2009 railwaygazette.com
- ↑ In the Ottoman Empire: some parts of lines extending into the middle east would not be incorporated into the Turkish State on its creation
- ↑ Uysal, Onur. "Traveling by Train in Turkey", Rail Turkey, 5 March 2014
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Uysal, Onur. "Where is Closed in Turkish Railways?", Rail Turkey, 16 May 2014
- ↑ Railway Gazette International – January 2008 p51
- ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
- ↑ Country report of Republic of Turkey in the field of transport and telecommunication Template:Webarchive page 3, United Nations Economic and Social commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) www.unescap.org
- ↑ Turkey, Iran agree on joint railway Template:Webarchive 27 July 2007 yenisafak.com.tr
- ↑ Uysal, Onur. "Baku Tbilisi Kars Railway to be Opened in 2014", Rail Turkey, 15 June 2013
- ↑ 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
- ↑ Armenia-Turkey railway network may be launched in couple of days Template:Webarchive 11 November 2009 www.armtown.com
- ↑ Project information document (PID) : Railways restructuring project (Turkey) World Bank, 2009, www-wds.worldbank.org
- ↑ TÜLOMSAŞ Company brochure Template:Webarchive www.tulomsas.com.tr
- ↑ TUVASAS Template:Webarchive Company website www.tuvasas.com
- ↑ Tuvasas, Manufacturers and services – Locomotives and passenger vehicles (Turkey) www.janes.com
- ↑ Hyundai Rotem newsletter No.15 page 2, 2008, www.hyundai-rotem.co.kr
- ↑ Hyundai Rotem newsletter No.16 Template:Webarchive page 3, 2009, www.hyundai-rotem.co.kr
- ↑ İlk hızlı tren fabrikası üretime başlıyor Template:Webarchive Plant begins production of the first high speed train, October 2008, www.tumgazeteler.com
- ↑ TÜDEMSAŞ Template:Webarchive Company website www.tudemsas.gov.tr
- ↑ UIC Railway Statistics Synopsis 2022 uic.org
- ↑ a b TCDD annual report 2008 www.tcdd.gov.tr
- ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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External links
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