Transport in Turkey is road-dominated and mostly fuelled by diesel. Transport consumes a quarter of energy in Turkey, and is a major source of air pollution in Turkey and greenhouse gas emissions by Turkey. The World Health Organization has called for more active transport such as cycling.
The Turkish State Railways (TCDD) started building high-speed rail lines in 2003. TCDD has branded its high-speed service as Yüksek Hızlı Tren (YHT) which currently operates on three lines: the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway and the Ankara–Konya high-speed railway and the Ankara-Sivas high-speed railway. YHT is the only high-speed rail service in Turkey, with two types of EMU train models operating at speeds of up to 250 km/h (155 mph) (HT65000) or 300 km/h (186 mph) (HT80000).
Turkey has a state-owned railway system built to standard gauge which falls under the remit of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The primary rail carrier is the Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları (TCDD) which is responsible for all long-distance and cross-border freight and passenger trains. A number of other companies operate suburban passenger trains in urban conurbations.
The TCDD E43000 is a twin-cab six-axle Bo-Bo-Bo electric locomotive used previously by the Turkish State Railways and currently by TCDD Taşımacılık in Turkey. The locomotives were designed by Toshiba and built by TÜLOMSAŞ at their Eskişehir shops. The locomotive is based on the JNR Class EF63 electric locomotive in Japan, built by Toshiba. The Turkish State Railways ordered 45 locomotives as part of the railways electrification program of the late-1980s early-1990s.
Ankara railway station is the main railway station in Ankara, Turkey, and is a major transportation hub within the city. The station is on the rail corridor which connects east and west Turkey, which is high speed between Istanbul and Sivas. Ankara station is also a hub for YHT high-speed trains, with its own exclusive platforms and concourse. TCDD Taşımacılık also operates intercity train service to Kars, Tatvan and Kurtalan as well as Başkentray commuter rail service.
The Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway, is a 562 km (349 mi) long high-speed railway linking Ankara and Istanbul in Turkey. The railway runs mostly parallel to the Istanbul-Ankara railway and passes through some of Turkey's most urbanized areas. The line hosts high-speed YHT train service with a maximum operating speed of 250 km/h (160 mph).
The Istanbul–Ankara railway is a 576.6 km (358.3 mi) long electrified railway in Turkey. The line connects Turkey's largest city, Istanbul, to the capital and second largest city, Ankara; making it one the busiest railways in the country in terms of passenger and freight rail traffic. Beginning at Haydarpaşa station in Istanbul and terminating at Ankara railway station in Ankara, the railway runs parallel to the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway and in several sections, hosts YHT high-speed trains.
The State Railways of the Republic of Turkey, abbreviated as TCDD, is a government-owned national railway company responsible with the ownership and maintenance of railway infrastructure in Turkey, as well as the planning and construction of new lines. TCDD was formed on 4 June 1929 as part of the nationalisation of railways in Turkey.
The Ankara Express is a daily overnight intercity passenger train, operated by TCDD Taşımacılık, between Istanbul and Ankara, with major stops at İzmit and Eskişehir. The train makes the 610.3 km (379.2 mi) long journey in about 8 and-a-half hours.
Yüksek Hızlı Tren or YHT is a high-speed rail service in Turkey, operated by TCDD Taşımacılık, and is the railway's premier intercity train service. As of 2022, the network spans 1,385 km (860.6 mi) and services major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Eskişehir, İzmit and Konya. Expansion of the system is underway and the network is expected to reach Sivas, Edirne, Afyonkarahisar, Adana and İzmir in the 2020s.
Eskişehir railway station is the main railway station in Eskişehir, Turkey. The station is part of a major railway facility, which is one of the largest in the country. Prior to the cancellation of all non-high-speed trains between Ankara and Istanbul, Eskişehir station was one of the busiest stations in Turkey. Eskişehir is served by high-speed trains on the Ankara–Istanbul line. Due to its geographical location, the city is an important railway junction, where two main lines meet. The largest railway factory in Turkey, owned by TÜLOMSAŞ, is located next to the station as well as serving as the headquarters for the company.
İzmir is a transportation hub for western Anatolia. İzmir has an extensive bus system, a developing metro and commuter rail system and a large urban ferry network. The city also has a highway to Çeşme and Aydın as well as a ring around the city. Mass transportation is operated by four separate public agencies all owned by the İzmir Municipality.
Polatlı railway station is a railway station in Polatlı. Polatlı is on the İstanbul-Ankara Main Line, with intercity rail services to many cities around Turkey. The station was built opened in 1892 by the Anatolian Railway.
The Capital Express was one of the six daily intercity trains operating between Istanbul and Ankara on the Istanbul-Ankara railway before the Yüksek Hızlı Tren high-speed train service replaced all intercity trains on the line. The Capital Express was the fastest of the six trains, making limited stops only in large cities. The train would complete its journey in just over four hours and in the Eskişehir Province, trains would reach conventional speeds of 150 km/h (93 mph), which still hold the record for fastest conventional train service in Turkey. When the high-speed rail service was opened between Ankara and Eskişehir on 13 March 2009, the Capital Express, along with the other five intercity trains, were cut back between Istanbul and Eskişehir. During this period two more daily intercity trains were added, the Sakarya Express and Eskişehir Express, increasing daily intercity service to eight trains.
Konya station is an inter-city railway station serving the central anatolian city of Konya. It serves as the southern terminus of the Polatlı–Konya high-speed railway with YHT high-speed trains from Ankara and Istanbul servicing the station. Inter-city trains to Izmir and Adana also terminate at the station. In 2011, the station was expanded, modernized and electrified to accommodate the new YHT high-speed rail service.
Bozüyük HSR station, short for Bozüyük High Speed Rail station, is a railway station on the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway just south of Bozüyük, Turkey. The station opened on 25 July 2014, along with the Eskişehir-Istanbul portion of the high-speed railway and is for the moment one of three railway stations in Turkey to be dedicated to high-speed rail. Bozüyük YHT has three tracks served by two platforms and two tracks in the middle for passing trains.
Bilecik HSR station, short for Bileck High Speed Rail station, is a railway station on the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway just east of Bilecik, Turkey. The station opened on 1 June 2015, almost a year after the opening of the Eskişehir-Istanbul portion of the high-speed railway, and is for the moment one of three railway station in Turkey dedicated to high-speed rail. Bilecik YHT has the same layout as the Polatlı YHT railway station; two tracks served by two side platforms and two passing tracks in the middle, as all scheduled YHT trains do not stop at Bilecik.
The Aegean Express, numbered as B31, is a passenger train operating daily between Basmane railway station in İzmir to Eskişehir. The train operates as a local service on the route, calling at more stations than its counterpart, the Karesi Express; which also operates between İzmir and Balıkesir.
TCDD Transport is a government-owned railway company responsible for the operations of most passenger and freight rail in Turkey. The company was formed on 14 June 2016, splitting off from the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) to take over railway operations, while TCDD would continue to administer railway infrastructure. TCDD Taşımacılık officially began operations on 1 January 2017.
Ankara Tren Garı, alternatively known as Ankara YHT railway station and abbreviated as ATG, is a mixed-use commercial building in Ankara, Turkey. The building houses a shopping mall, a five-star hotel and commercial offices, as well as a concourse for YHT high-speed trains.
