Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu attended the opening meeting of the Project for Strengthening Intermodal Transport Services in the Turkish Railway Sector. Karaismailoğlu stated that they aim to increase the share of railways in international freight transportation by 10 times, and noted that they aim to increase the number of railway passengers to 2035 million in 145 and 2053 million in 269.
Adil Karaismailoğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Mehmet Kemal Bozay, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Head of EU, Yunus Emre Ayözen, Head of Strategy Development at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Burak Aykan, General Manager of European Union and Foreign Relations at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Delegation of the EU to Turkey Economic and Social Head of Development Department Angel Gutierrez Hidalgo de Quintana, TCDD Transportation General Manager Ufuk Yalçın and TCDD General Manager Hasan Pezük and relevant people attended.
Karaismailoğlu, in his speech at the opening of the meeting, said that they connected every corner of Turkey to each other, that they were not satisfied with this and that they connected the world to Turkey.
Expressing that they brought an investment of 2003 billion dollars to Turkey in the 2023-194 period, Karaismiloğlu said, “We are determined to further develop our sphere of influence with the alternative routes, transportation corridors and trade routes we have built. By being a very important pillar of the Middle Corridor, we increased our country's share of logistics mobility. We have become one of the fastest developing countries in the world with policies and activities that increase all transportation services many times over. The potential produced and to be produced by the Middle Corridor, which is a great move for us to have a say in world trade, is obvious.” he said.
“The share of railways in international freight transportation will increase 10 times”
Emphasizing that they always work to provide alternative channels to the nation and the national economy, Karaismailoğlu stated that the new move in this context is the "Development Corridor". Karaismailoğlu said, “We will establish connections from the Indian Ocean to Europe, the Mediterranean, the Black Sea and the Caucasus, thanks to the corridor that will consist of railways and roads from Iraq's Fav Port in the Persian Gulf to the Turkish border.” used the phrases.
Providing information on the targets in railway investments, Karaismailoğlu said, “We foresee that the ratio of railways in transportation will increase over 2029 percent in 11, and approximately 2053 percent in 22.” said.
Karaismailoğlu stated that they aim to increase the share of the railway in international freight transportation by 10 times, and stated that they aim to increase the number of railway passengers to 2035 million in 145 and 2053 million in 269.
Pointing out that investments in other transportation modes will continue, Karaismailoğlu made the following assessment:
“As a result, the share of railways in freight transport will increase more than 2019 times from 2053 to 7. These figures also mean a significant reduction in carbon emissions. Of course, by giving due importance to our investments in other transportation modes, we will continue our efforts to provide our country with a more sustainable, safe, environmentally friendly, accessible, comprehensive, fast and technologically more innovative transportation opportunity with a new, fast and comfortable infrastructure. By 2053, our railway network will increase from 13 thousand 22 kilometers to 28 thousand 590 kilometers. The number of provinces with high-speed train connection will increase from 8 to 52. With our investments of approximately 2053 billion dollars until 190, the contribution of the sector to our national income will exceed 2053 trillion dollars until 1, bringing more than 5 times the investment value to our country. In addition, we will provide 2 trillion dollars in production and 28 million people in employment.”
“With the liberalization we started on the railways, we paved the way for the private sector to operate passenger and freight trains.”
Benefiting from Turkey's unique geographical location in the future, it is aimed to become a global and regional center in logistics and to further improve the land, rail, sea, air and communication networks in an economical, effective, efficient, safe, environmentally friendly and disaster-resistant manner. Emphasizing that development is their main priority, Karaismailoğlu said:
“As the sector's regulatory authority and national security authority, we continue to work on legislation in line with the EU acquis within our Ministry so that operators in the liberalized railway sector can provide services in a fair and sustainable competitive environment. With the liberalization we initiated in railways, we paved the way for the private sector to operate passenger and freight trains. In this context, we have authorized 3 companies as railway passenger train operators and 4 companies as railway freight train operators. In 2022, 38,5 percent of the total 16 million tons of freight on the railways was carried by private railway train operators. In order to further increase the share of transportation on the railroad, our efforts to reduce investment and operating costs and to make the shifting of land cargo to railroads attractive continue.”
“We will increase global competitiveness in the transportation sector”
Karaismailoğlu emphasized that they aim to increase the share of railways in intermodal transportation with the “Strengthening Intermodal Transport Services Project” jointly financed with the European Union, especially to ensure the development of Turkey in this field and to establish a more environmentally friendly and comfortable transportation system by establishing not only national but also international connections. stated their aim. Minister Karaismailoğlu said, “From now on, we will focus more on railway investments in line with increasing environmental concerns, low emission targets and Turkey's strategic targets on the Middle Corridor.” said.
Informing that they aim to reach 2053 kilometers of line length in 28 for this purpose, Karaismailoğlu said that they aim to strengthen Turkey's logistics capacity and efficiency and increase the share of railroads in freight transportation, thanks to the network of logistics centers connected to the railroad with the project. Karaismailoğlu also explained that they will improve the railway infrastructure in an integrated manner with other transportation modes, strengthen intermodal transportation, and thus increase the global competitiveness in the transportation sector.
“Logistics capacity and efficiency of our country will be strengthened”
Ayozen, Head of Strategy Development at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, also gave information about the project.
Ayözen said, “The Project of Strengthening Intermodal Transport Services in the Turkish Railway Sector is of great importance for the integration of freight transport both within and outside of our country's borders. Our project, which will last for 24 months with the European Union IPA Fund, will cover 85% of the cost from IPA funds and 15% from the Ministry's budget. We will strengthen our country's logistics capacity and efficiency and increase the share of railways in freight transport, thanks to the 'railway-connected logistics centers network' that we will further strengthen as a result of our project. In addition, we will contribute to the development of the railway infrastructure in an integrated manner with other transportation modes and to the strengthening of intermodal transportation.” he said.
Emphasizing that within the scope of the project, a situation analysis will be made in terms of demand, service and infrastructure levels of intermodal transport in Turkey, technology and business models used, as well as policy, legal and institutional framework. He noted that realistic demand forecasts will be put forward.
Ayözen added that they will make the necessary arrangements in the legal infrastructure in order to increase the share of railway freight transportation among transportation modes.