Eskişehir YHT Railway Transition Project

Eskisehir YHT Railway Transition Project: Eskisehir YHT Railway Transition Project
Minister of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Lütfi Elvan stated that the test drives on the Ankara-Istanbul High Speed ​​Train (YHT) line are continuing and said, “When taking the high-speed train, it can be reached from Eskişehir to Pendik. There is no problem, ”he said.
Elvan, Minister of National Education, Nabi Avcı, in a statement regarding the Project of Submerging the Eskişehir YHT Railway Crossing, said that the 2,2 kilometer part of the YHT line was passed underground in the city center. Elvan said, “Our YHTs have started their passage through this tunnel opened with the cut and cover method. "I think this relieves Eskişehir," he said.
Stating that Eskişehir has a different importance in the railway sector, Elvan reminded that the city has had a “railway identity” for more than a hundred years and that the high-speed train line was opened in 2009 and the Eskişehir-Konya high-speed line was opened in 2013. Stating that the test drive works continue at a speed of 180-200 kilometers on the Eskişehir-Istanbul YHT line, Elvan said, "We need to reach up to 275 kilometers".
Stating that there are few examples in the world that the train passes underground in the city center, Elvan noted that an example of this is located in Cordoba, Spain. Stating that this is an extremely important project in terms of urban aesthetics and environmental sensitivity, Elvan stated that they have started to work on transforming the upper part of the line in the city center into a green area.
- Investment equivalent to 5 thousand residences
Pointing out that underground passage works are difficult due to the high water level, Elvan said, “There is a 2,2 kilometer bored pile application in the 145 kilometer section. The displacement of 3,5 kilometers long infrastructure investments such as drinking water, rain water and sewage was realized. "An investment equivalent to 20 thousand residences has been made in a district with a population of 5 thousand."
- "(Ankara-Istanbul YHT line) will be opened after the test drives"
When members of the press asked the opening date of the Ankara-Istanbul YHT line, Elvan said that when taking the high-speed train, it was possible to reach Pendik from Eskişehir. Elvan said, “There is no problem here. But security is extremely important to us. The safety of our passengers is important. Therefore, we continue test drives in accordance with international standards, ”he said.
Stating that they do not want to take risks, Elvan said, “We may open it today, but we do not want to take this risk. If we thought of it as an election investment, we would have opened. Test drives are extremely important at YHT. We do not want to give up security, ”he said.
Elvan said the opening will take place after the completion of the test drive, said the opening date can not say anything about.
- "Even yesterday they cut our cables and ran away"
Elvan said that even in the last month the cable has been cut 25 times, although the studies have been completed.
“I don't know who is doing it and why. Even yesterday they cut our cables and ran away. Even though we put a security guard every kilometer, they cut and run. Some of these people were caught. One of the persons was given electricity that day and passed away. It is sad for us, but we have completed our work. As a result of the test drives, our citizens will have the opportunity to travel comfortably from Ankara to Eskişehir, from Eskişehir to Istanbul. Our friends are working, there is no problem. When making test drives, the integration of signal systems is extremely important. We also need to provide certification for this. We currently provide this when we request a certification at a speed of 180 kilometers. There is no problem. If we want to travel at a speed of 200 kilometers, we get the certification right now. We can start our trains to work, but we want to reach the ultimate goal. If we thought of it as political material, we would open it before the election. "
Explaining that they will build an exemplary station building in Eskişehir, Elvan said that the project work is about to be completed and the tender will be held this year.
After the speeches, Elvan and Avcı and their delegation went from Eskişehir to Bilecik's Bozüyük district with the Piri Reis train, where the tests were carried out.
TCDD General Manager Süleyman Karaman said in a statement on the train that 247 separate measurements such as road, rail, ground, electrification and signal were made simultaneously with Piri Reis. Karaman said, “Everything is in the measurement while we are currently driving 180 kilometers. But from now on, we will get even faster. As we get a little faster, we will make the measurements. This train is constantly running between Istanbul and Eskişehir. When these tests are completed, Ankara-Istanbul YHT line will be opened ”.