Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu spoke at the opening meeting of the Project for Strengthening Intermodal Transport Services in the Turkish Railway Sector.
Karaismailoğlu, in his speech, said that they connected every corner of Turkey to each other, they were not satisfied with this and they connected the world to Turkey.
Expressing that they brought an investment of 194 billion dollars to Turkey in the 2003-2023 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. We have increased the share of our country in logistics mobility by forming a very important leg of the Middle Corridor. “We have become one of the fastest developing countries in the world with policies and activities that have increased all transportation services many times over. The potential that the Middle Corridor has produced and will produce, 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 the railway in transportation will increase over 11 percent in 2029, and that it will be approximately 22 percent in 2053.” 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 145 million in 2035 and 269 million in 2053.
Pointing out that investments in other transportation modes will continue, Karaismailoğlu made the following assessment:
“As a result, the share of railways in freight transportation will increase by more than 7 times from 2019 to 2053. 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 provide a new, fast and comfortable way to our country. We will continue our efforts to provide a more sustainable, safe, environmentally friendly, accessible, comprehensive, fast and technologically more innovative transportation with infrastructure. With our investments of approximately 190 billion dollars until 2053, the contribution of the sector to our national income will exceed 1 trillion dollars by 2053, and it will bring more than 5 times the investment cost to our country. In addition, we will provide 2 trillion dollars in production and 28 million people in employment. “
Liberalization studies on railways
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 safety authority, we continue to work on legislation in line with the EU acquis within the body of our Ministry so that operators in the liberalized railway sector can serve in a fair and sustainable competitive environment. With the liberalization we initiated in railways, we have 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. 16 percent of a total of 38.5 million tons of freight on railways was transported by private railway train operators in 2022. The share of transport on the railway is higher. We continue to work on reducing investment and operating costs and making the shifting of terrestrial cargo to railways attractive in order to increase
“We will increase the global competitiveness in the transportation sector”
Emphasizing 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, Karaismailoğlu said, 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, “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 28,590 kilometers of line length in 2053 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 develop 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 in freight transport both within the borders of our country and outside our borders. Our project, which will last for 24 months with the European Union IPA Fund, 85% of the cost comes from IPA funds, 15% from IPA funds. The rest will be covered by the Ministry’s budget. Thanks to the ‘railway-connected logistics centers network’, which we will further strengthen as a result of our project, we will strengthen the logistics capacity and efficiency of our country and increase the share of railways in freight transport. In addition, we will develop the railway infrastructure in an integrated manner with other transportation modes, intermodal We will contribute to the strengthening of 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.
