A huge project that will fundamentally change the concept of transportation in the southern region of Türkiye is progressing step by step. The Mersin-Adana-Osmaniye-Gaziantep High Standard Railway Line project, implemented under the leadership of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, will not only shorten the distances between the cities when completed, but will also strengthen economic, cultural and logistical ties. However, the most exciting development regarding the future of the project is the speculation that this important line may be called the “Göbeklitepe Express.”
Duration Reduced from 6 Hours to 2 Hours: Saving Time and Carbon
With the completion of the project, the train travel time between Mersin and Gaziantep will be reduced from the current 6 hours and 23 minutes to just 2 hours and 15 minutes. This dramatic reduction will mean significant time savings for passengers, while also providing a major gain in terms of carbon emissions. The Ministry of Transport particularly emphasizes that this project will make significant contributions to sustainable transportation goals. With the financing of the UK-based UKEF credit institution and Rönesans This strategic line, constructed by the Holding with the EPC-F model, is a concrete example of Türkiye's environmentally friendly infrastructure vision.
Regional Economy on Rails
This project has the potential to function as a development corridor for the region, beyond being a mere transportation initiative. Connecting important centers such as Mersin, Adana, Osmaniye and Gaziantep with high-speed trains will significantly reduce logistics costs and increase the competitiveness of various sectors in the region, such as agriculture, tourism, trade and gastronomy. The regional development of the south is being reshaped on modern train rails.
Giant Infrastructure Move in Numbers
The magnitude of the project becomes clearer when you look at the technical details it contains:
- 21 million cubic meters of soil movement
- 2 million cubic meters of reinforced concrete manufacturing
- 77.000 tons of rail laying
- 6 huge viaducts
- 6 modern tunnels
- 32 railway bridges
- 30 highway overpasses
- 55 underpasses
- 266 culverts
- 21 modern stations
This ambitious project, which set out with the goal of carrying 6,4 million passengers annually, will also reduce heavy freight traffic on highways and enable the transportation of approximately 100 million tons of freight via railways.
New Target: High Speed Train Reaches Şanlıurfa
In the latest statement made by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, the good news was given that the project will be extended from Gaziantep to Şanlıurfa. The ministry confirmed that the project is progressing with determination with the statement, “The Gaziantep-Şanlıurfa high-speed train line has not been suspended, on the contrary, construction is planned to begin this year.”
Good News from President Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan also gave the people of Şanlıurfa the good news about this important project at the AK Party Şanlıurfa 11th Ordinary Provincial Congress on January 8: “We are starting the construction of the 136-kilometer Gaziantep-Şanlıurfa high-speed train line this year. We have also come to the end of the Şanlıurfa-Mardin line. We will establish an uninterrupted high-speed train line from Edirne to Şanlıurfa.” This statement shows that the project is among the government’s priorities and is part of a great vision for the region.
“Göbeklitepe Express”: History and Modern Transportation Meet
The idea of naming this high-speed train line, which is being built between Mersin and Gaziantep and will extend to Şanlıurfa in the future, “Göbeklitepe Express” gives the project a different meaning. If this name is preferred, the unique historical and cultural importance of Göbeklitepe, which is considered the oldest temple complex in the world, will have the opportunity to be introduced to much wider audiences both domestically and abroad. The name “Göbeklitepe Express” will not only facilitate transportation in the region, but will also contribute to attracting more attention worldwide by significantly increasing the tourism potential of Şanlıurfa and the Southeastern Anatolia Region. This name can symbolize the beginning of a new era as a meaningful meeting of a historical heritage that is thousands of years old with modern transportation facilities.
