Transport Minister Uraloğlu Announces Plan to Use 600 Trains Annually for Freight Movement
Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Uraloğlu, recently spoke at the farewell ceremony of the first Pacific Eurasia Railway Management Istanbul-Budapest freight train from Halkalı Station. During his speech, Uraloğlu emphasized the importance of the liberalization process of railways, stating that it has faced various challenges over the years.
The Minister highlighted the efforts towards liberalization that began when the AK Party government came into power. He noted that Turkey has started to witness the emergence of its first private sector companies in railway transportation as a result of these efforts.
One significant milestone in the development of the sector is the Pacific Eurasia project, which received Turkey’s third and first international freight transportation railway train operator certificate. Uraloğlu explained that the export train operating on the Istanbul-Budapest track will cover a total of 1549 kilometers and complete its journey in 4 days.
The Pacific Eurasia company aims to carry 750 thousand tons of export cargo worth 600 million euros annually, equivalent to 22 thousand trucks. This will be achieved through the operation of 60 trains monthly and 600 trains annually on this line.
Minister Uraloğlu also highlighted the significant progress made in expanding Turkey’s railway network, increasing its length to 13,919 kilometers. He emphasized the importance of the Silk Railway project in connecting Asia and Europe through a safe, efficient, and eco-friendly railway corridor.
Moreover, Uraloğlu discussed the success of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Line in facilitating freight transportation between China, Turkey, and Europe. He mentioned that more than 1.5 million tons of cargo have been transported on this line since its opening, with plans for further growth.
Looking ahead, Minister Uraloğlu outlined ambitious goals for the future of Turkey’s railway sector, including increasing the network to 17,287 kilometers by 2028 and 28,590 kilometers by 2053. He also aims to boost the share of railway freight transportation from 5 percent to 22 percent, with the goal of transporting 448 million tons annually by rail.
In conclusion, Uraloğlu expressed satisfaction with the involvement of private sector companies as railway train operators, signaling a collaborative effort to expand and strengthen the railway sector in Turkey. As he gave the departure order for Turkey’s first private international freight train, it marked a significant milestone in the country’s railway development journey.
