Post by Michał Dygas

2009 → today: High-Speed Rail in Türkiye is becoming a corridor system, not just a flagship line 🚄🇹🇷 Türkiye is developing its high-speed rail network under the YHT – Yüksek Hızlı Tren brand. The first section opened in 2009 on the Ankara–Eskişehir route. Since then, the network has expanded into a set of corridors mainly radiating from Ankara toward Istanbul, Konya/Karaman and Sivas. From a technical perspective, Türkiye is an interesting example of gradual HSR system development: from dedicated 250 km/h lines to upgraded mixed-traffic corridors designed for around 200 km/h. Key technical features of the YHT system ⚙️ 🔹 track gauge: 1,435 mm 🔹 electrification: 25 kV AC, 50 Hz 🔹 typical operating speed: up to 250 km/h 🔹 rolling stock: CAF HT65000 and Siemens Velaro TR / HT80000 🔹 signalling and control: ETCS Level 1 / Level 2, CTC and electronic interlockings 🔹 network logic: strongly centred around Ankara Current YHT services include routes such as Ankara–Istanbul, Ankara–Konya, Istanbul–Konya, Ankara–Karaman, Ankara–Sivas and Sivas–Istanbul. This means that high-speed rail is no longer only about connecting the capital with Istanbul — it is increasingly linking Central Anatolia with Marmara, the south and the east of the country. One important distinction is worth highlighting 👇 Not every Turkish “hızlı tren” corridor is a classic dedicated 250 km/h HSR line. Some routes, such as Konya–Karaman, are better understood as upgraded double-track, electrified and signalled mixed-traffic lines, with speeds closer to 200 km/h. The next major projects show the strategic direction clearly 🧭 🚄 Ankara–İzmir — connecting the capital with the Aegean region 🚄 Bursa–Osmaneli / Bandırma — integrating Bursa into the YHT network 🚄 Halkalı–Kapıkule — a European corridor toward Bulgaria and the EU 🚄 Mersin–Adana–Osmaniye–Gaziantep — a southern passenger and freight corridor What makes Türkiye especially interesting is that it is not building only a passenger high-speed rail system. It is building a multi-corridor railway architecture where HSR, 200 km/h mixed-traffic lines, electrification, ETCS, freight connectivity and international corridors are gradually becoming part of one transport strategy. For me, this is a strong example of how high-speed rail can be used not only to reduce travel times, but also to integrate regions, ports, industry and cross-border connections. 🌍🚆