Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that since the Ankara-Sivas High Speed Train Line entered service on April 26, 2023, they have transported 278 thousand 854 people to their loved ones in a fast, safe and comfortable way. This high-speed train line shortened the distance between Ankara and Sivas from 603 kilometers to 405 kilometers. At the same time, the travel time on the railway has also decreased, from 12 hours between Ankara and Sivas to 2 hours, and between Ankara and Yozgat to 1 hour.
Minister Uraloğlu stated that due to the increasing passenger demand and density since the opening of the line, they decided to organize 11 reciprocal flights (8+4) on Friday, Saturday and Sunday as of August 4th. In this way, the Ankara-Sivas High Speed Train Line, where more than 3 thousand passengers travel on average daily, will increase the capacity of 966 people, especially on weekends.
Minister Uraloğlu announced that the works are continuing to put into service the Yıldızeli, Yerköy, Sorgun, Akdağmadeni and Elmadağ stations on the Ankara-Sivas route, which is Turkey's first high-speed train line project. With the completion of these stations, it is aimed to make significant contributions to the tourism and economy of the region. With the changes made in the project in order to make the new stations more accessible and usable, it is aimed for the public to have easy access to the stations and to benefit from the high-speed rail transportation network more effectively. It is stated that the works continue uninterruptedly and if they are completed, the stations will be opened to the service of the citizens.
It is also reported that 66 tunnels with a total length of 49 kilometers and 27 viaducts with a length of 49 kilometers were built within the scope of the Ankara-Sivas High Speed Train Project. The longest tunnel of the project is in Akdağmadeni with 5 thousand 125 meters, while the longest railway viaduct is in Çerikli with 2 thousand 220 meters. In addition, the railway viaduct with the highest pillar of Turkey was built in Elmadağ with a height of 89 meters.
With the Ankara-Sivas High Speed Train Line put into service, it is aimed that the people of the region benefit from fast and safe transportation opportunities, that intercity travels will become more comfortable, and that positive effects will be provided to the region's tourism and economy. These infrastructure investments show the progress and development Turkey has made in the transportation sector.