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, 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).
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 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 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.
Marşandiz Yard, also known as the Ankara Railway Factory, is a large mixed-use rail yard and maintenance facility in Ankara, Turkey. The sprawling complex consists of two rail yards, one for freight and one for passenger trains, a large maintenance facility consisting of locomotive and railcar maintenance and repair shops, freight warehouses and also houses the TCDD District 2 General Headquarters, along with other administrative facilities. The yard is the largest rail complex in Turkey, covering about 104 hectares. Located in the industrial Bahçekapı neighborhood in Etimesgut, it is situated along the Istanbul-Ankara railway; Marşandiz station is served by Başkentray commuter trains.
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, Konya, and Sivas. Expansion of the system is underway and the network is expected to reach Edirne, Afyonkarahisar, Adana, and İzmir in the 2020s.
The Etimesgut High-speed rail maintenance facility, officially known as the Main High-speed rail Maintenance Facility, is a passenger rail yard used exclusively for YHT high-speed train-sets in Ankara, Turkey. Located in the Etiler neighborhood in northwestern Etimesgut, it is the second largest rail yard in Turkey spanning over 64 hectares.
Pendik station is the main railway station in Pendik, Istanbul. Located between Hatboyu and Abdülhalik Renda Avenues in southeastern Pendik. TCDD Taşımacılık operates YHT trains to Ankara and Konya, via Eskişehir, along with daily regional trains to Adapazarı. The station is 24.05 km (14.94 mi) away from Haydarpaşa station in central Istanbul. The metro line M10 is currently under construction to make the link with Sabiha Gökçen Airport, which is located about 9 km in the North.
Polatlı HSR station, short for Polatlı High Speed Rail station is a railway station serving the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway just southeast of Polatlı. The station was opened on 16 February 2011, two years after the opening of the railway between Ankara and Eskişehir, and is the first railway station in Turkey to be dedicated to high-speed rail. Polatlı YHT is served by two tracks via side platforms with two express tracks in middle, as not all scheduled YHT trains stop at Polatlı.
Sincan railway station is a railway station in Sincan, Ankara and the western terminus of the Başkentray commuter rail line. Prior to the closure of all non-YHT trains within Ankara, the station was an intercity and regional rail station. Between 2009 and 2018, Sincan also served high-speed trains. On 10 January 2018, high-speed YHT trains bypassed Sincan stopping at Lale station instead, until 15 March 2018 and subsequently at Eryaman YHT railway station.
The Ankara–Sivas high-speed railway, is a 406 km (252 mi) long high-speed railway in Turkey and is the second longest high-speed railway in the country after the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway. Travel time between Ankara and Sivas was reduced to 2 hours and 50 minutes, from around 9 hours and 30 minutes with conventional trains. The railway will also serve as an extension of the Ankara-Istanbul HSR with a total journey time from Istanbul to Sivas at around 7 hours. The line was opened on April 26, 2023.
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 stations 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.
TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. 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.
Kırıkkale YHT railway station, short for Kırıkkale Yüksek Hızlı Tren railway station, is a railway station located just north of Kırıkkale, Turkey. The station is located along the D.200 highway on the northern perimeter of the city, and will service high-speed trains along the Ankara–Sivas high-speed railway.
Yerköy YHT railway station, short for Yerköy Yüksek Hızlı Tren station, is a railway station located north of Yerköy, Turkey, that is under construction. The station is located just north of the D.200 highway near the village of Akpınar, and will service high-speed trains along the Ankara-Sivas high-speed railway.
Eryaman YHT railway station, previously known as Ankara West YHT railway station, is a railway station in Ankara, Turkey. Once Başkentray commuter rail service begins in April, the station will become a transfer point between YHT high-speed trains and local commuter trains, replacing Sincan station. Eryaman station also replaced Emirler station, located about 175 m (574 ft) east of the station, which was demolished in July 2016.
Selçuklu YHT railway station, or Selçuklu HSR railway station is a railway station in Konya, Turkey. Opened on 2 October 2021, it is the main high-speed railway station in the city, while Konya station is the main inter-city station. Built on the Polatlı-Konya high-speed railway, the station exclusively services high-speed YHT train from Konya to Ankara and Istanbul. Selçuklu station is the second largest high-speed railway station in Turkey, after Ankara station, with 3 platforms serving 5 tracks and 2 tracks bypassing the station for freight rail.