During the 2021 and 2022 audit reports of the State Railways of the Turkish Republic, which were discussed at the TBMM Public Economic Enterprises (KİT) Commission, AK Party Karabük Deputy Ali Keskinkılıç brought up TCDD's projects that are vital for Karabük and the region. Keskinkılıç conveyed his expectations regarding Karabük's railway connections and industrial collaborations to the TCDD General Manager and managers.
Filyos Port Railway Connection and Logistics Center Emphasis
MP Keskinkılıç asked in his speech to the commission what stage the works for connecting Karabük to Filyos Port, which Karabük has been waiting for for many years, are at. Emphasizing that this connection will make Karabük the most important logistics base of the Western Black Sea with the Logistics Center decision taken on April 15, Keskinkılıç requested support from the TCDD administration for the construction of this vital connection road. Providing access to the port by rail is of critical importance for the development of Karabük industry and regional trade.
KARDEMİR Collaboration and GARPARK Project are Following
Ali Keskinkılıç also brought up the potential for cooperation between Karabük’s important industrial establishment KARDEMİR and TCDD to the TCDD management. He asked, “What kind of progress will be made with KARDEMİR at what level?” and expressed his curiosity about the contributions this cooperation will provide to the regional economy.
Keskinkılıç, who stated that another important project for Karabük is the GARPARK Project, expressed that the relocation of the train repair and maintenance stations located in the city center and dividing the city into two is of great importance for the province. The reintroduction of this area to city life will make a positive contribution to the urbanization process of Karabük.
Request for Karaelmas Tourism Express to Start Trips Again
MP Keskinkılıç also conveyed his request to TCDD management to reactivate the Karaelmas Tourism Express in his speech. He stated that Karabük and Zonguldak MPs also wanted to participate in the first trip of the express, and emphasized that this line would make significant contributions to regional tourism.
Keskinkılıç's Dream of a "Railway from Danube to Turan"
Drawing attention to the strategic importance of logistics in world trade, Ali Keskinkılıç stated that logistics is one of the most important arguments in trade wars and that countries that are strong in this area achieve success. He emphasized that creating a strong logistics infrastructure for Turkish industrialists will increase their competitive power.
At the end of his speech, Keskinkılıç shared his childhood dream with both the commission members and the TCDD management: “I have a dream, I want to go from Danube to Turan by railway. Such an opportunity also means reaching the 1 trillion dollar economic potential on this route.” Stating that this dream is now closer with the historic victory in the Karabakh war and the acquisition of the Zangezur Corridor, Keskinkılıç’s visionary approach was listened to carefully in the commission.
