Turkey is transforming its national railway into a modern network with plans in place to extend its two-line 1213km high-speed network to 11,000km by 2023. In an exclusive interview with TCDD’s director general,
Isa Apaydin, David Briginshaw explores recent developments and the next steps for the programme.

GREENBRIER announced on August 8 it has acquired a 68% stake in Turkish freight wagon manufacturer Rayvag, expanding its European operations in an area it says offers a key connection between Asia and Europe.

AFTER a three-year hiatus, passenger services resumed between Tabriz in northwest Iran and Van, Turkey on June 18.

PRODUCTION is due to start in the fourth quarter of 2018 on Turkey’s national EMU project under a joint venture of Tüvasaş, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and Turkey’s Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications (UDH).

IRJ at UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail: Turkey’s transport minister Mr Ahmet Arslan told delegates at the UIC World Congress on High-Speed Rail in Ankara this week that Turkish State Railways (TCDD) YHT high-speed services will be extended from their current terminus in the eastern suburb of Pendik to the centre of the city by the end of 2018.

TURKISH State Railways (TCDD) has awarded a €340m contract to Siemens to supply 10 more Velaro high-speed trains and to maintain them for three years.

TURKEY’s president Mr Recep Tayyip Erdogan, prime minister, Mr Binali Yildirim, and transport and communications minister Mr Ahmet Arslan attended the inauguration of Ankara’s Başkentray suburban line on April 12.

DOGUS Construction Group, which is building the 10km light rail line between Eminönü and Alibeyköy on the west bank of the Golden Horn in Istanbul, has selected Alstom to provide its APS ground-power-supply solution for the entirety of the project.

TRACKLAYING is underway on the 253km Yerkoy - Sivas section of the 405km high-speed line under construction between the Turkish capital Ankara and Sivas in Anatolian province after a ground-breaking ceremony was held on March 25.