Rail transport in Turkey

{{update|date=December 2018}} {{Short description|none}}  {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2022}} {{Infobox rail network |name = Rail transport in Turkey |logo = |logo_size = |image = YHT train at Ankara railway station.jpg |caption = TCDD's premier high-speed rail service, Yüksek Hızlı Tren, waiting to depart Ankara YHT. |nationalrailway = Turkish State Railways |infrastructure = |majoroperators = |ridership = 279.4 million (2024)<ref name=europa>{{cite web|url= https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/9/97/Rail_passenger_transport_by_type_of_transport_for_main_undertakings%2C_2018-2019_%28thousand_passengers%29.png|title= Rail passenger transport by type of transport for main undertakings, 2018–2019 (thousand passengers)|website=ec.europa.eu|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref> |passkm = 15,43 billion (2024)<ref name="r2013">[http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/upload/files/ContentFiles/2010/istatistik/20092013yillik.pdf TCDD statistical report 2009-2013] page 119, ''www.tcdd.gov.tr''</ref> |freight = 13,2 billion tkm (2024)<ref name="r2013"/> |length = 13,919 km (2024)<ref name=InvestinTurkey>[https://www.invest.gov.tr/en/sectors/pages/infrastructure.aspx Invest in Turkey: Transportation and logistics]</ref> |doublelength = 946 km (2024) |ellength = 7142 km (2024) |freightlength = |hslength = 2251 km (2024) |ogauge = |ogaugelength = |gauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on|nowrap=on|disp=/}} |hsgauge = {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on|nowrap=on|disp=/}} |gauge1 = |gauge1length = |gauge2 = |gauge2length = |gauge3 = |gauge3length = |gauge4 = |gauge4length = |el = 25 kV, 50 Hz AC |hsel = 25 kV, 50 Hz AC |el1 = |el1length = |el2 = |el2length = |el3 = |el3length = |notunnels = 804 |tunnellength = 200.407 km |longesttunnel = |nobridges = |longestbridge = |nostations = |highelevation = |highelat = |lowelevation = |lowelat = |map = |}}{{Cleanup reorganize|date=November 2024|reason=duplication with Turkish State Railways might be solved with excerpts}} Turkey has a state-owned railway system built to standard gauge ({{RailGauge|1435mm}}) which falls under the remit of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The primary rail carrier is the ''Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları'' (TCDD) (Turkish State Railways) 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.

Native railway industry extends to the production of locomotives, passenger vehicles and freight wagons; some vehicles are also produced through licensing agreements and cooperation with foreign countries.

In the early 21st century, major infrastructural projects were realized; such as the construction of a high-speed railway network as well as a tunnel under the Bosphorus strait which connects Europe and Anatolia by rail for the first time.

Turkey is a member of the International Union of Railways (UIC). The UIC Country Code for Turkey is 75.

==History== {{Excerpt|History of rail transport in Turkey}}

==Network== {{see also|Turkish_State_Railways#Network}} [[File:Ankara-Söğütlüçeşme YHT (Ankara Garı).jpg|thumb|A TCDD HT80000 at the ATG terminal in Ankara.]] [[File:Ankara_Tren_Garı.jpg|thumb|The ATG terminal in Ankara is a hub for the YHT services of the Turkish State Railways]]

In 2022, Turkey had {{Convert|12532|km|abbr=on}}<ref name=InvestinTurkey/> of railway lines, of which 95% were single-tracked,<ref group="note">8697km of lines</ref> 21% of the network was electrified and 28% signalled. Due to the mountainous geography of the country, the network has many steep gradients and sharp curves.<ref name="tcdd1">[http://www.euromedtransport.org/fileadmin/download/maincontract/tf/TF_R_RTransport_21Nov08/PPP_Rail_Transport_Turkey.pdf Presentation of the Rail Transport:Turkey] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190522222201/http://www.euromedtransport.org/fileadmin/download/maincontract/tf/TF_R_RTransport_21Nov08/PPP_Rail_Transport_Turkey.pdf |date=22 May 2019 }} Tevfik Muhammed, engineer, Turkish State Railways (TCDD), 21 November 2008 ''www.euromedtransport.org''</ref> The Turkish rail network does not cover all major cities; its fourth and fifth largest metropolitan areas of Bursa and Antalya respectively remain unconnected to the network, although plans exist for high-speed rail lines to reach them.

As of June 2016, there is {{Convert|8334|km|abbr=on}} of conventional railway line and {{Convert|593|km|abbr=on}} of high-speed railway line. {{Convert|2288|km|abbr=on}} of the network is electrified (31%), and {{Convert|3036|km|abbr=on}} of it is signaled (37%).<ref>Turkish State Railways Annual Statistics 2010–2014</ref>

Electrified lines run from Kapıkule on the Bulgarian border via Istanbul to Ankara, and from Divriği via Malatya to İskenderun on the Mediterranean coast.<ref name="tcdd1"/> Additionally, Sivas and İzmir have electrified networks. Here are some technical informations (standards) about the Turkish railway system:{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} * Rail Gauge – {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} * Electrification – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC Overhead lines * Loading gauge – UIC GC * Traffic – Right-Hand traffic * Pantograph – {{Convert|195|cm|abbr=on}} (Old) and {{Convert|160|cm|abbr=on}} (New, Rebuilt and High-speed lines) * Rail – S49 (Old) and UIC 60 (New, Rebuilt and High-speed lines) * Sleepers – Wooden & Steel (Old) and Concrete (New, Rebuilt and High-speed lines) * Fastening – Baseplate based with Screw spikes (Old) and Tension Clamp (New, Rebuilt and High-speed lines) * Platform height – {{Convert|38|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} (Low platforms), {{Convert|55|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} (High-speed trains' platforms) and {{Convert|105|cm|abbr=on|frac=8}} (Commuter rail platforms) * Coupling – Buffers and Chains (Locomotives and Passenger cars) and Scharfenberg (MUs) * Brake – Air * Curve minimum – {{convert|200|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|3500|m|ft|0|abbr=on}} (High-speed lines)

===High-speed rail lines=== {{Main|High-speed rail in Turkey}} thumb|Rail transport map of Turkey

The first completed section of the high-speed rail line between Ankara and Eskişehir was opened by the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan on 13 March 2009.<ref>[http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view//turkey-high-speed-launch.html Turkey high speed launch] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120604035951/http://www.railwaygazette.com/news/single-view/view/turkey-high-speed-launch.html |date=4 June 2012 }} 13 March 2009 ''railwaygazette.com''</ref>

As of August 2024, there are eight high-speed routes (Istanbul-Ankara, Istanbul-Konya, Istanbul-Karaman, Istanbul-Sivas Ankara-Eskisehir, Ankara-Konya, Ankara-Karaman, Ankara-Sivas) running on three different high-speed railway lines. Bursa, İzmir and Edirne are among some of other cities to be connected to the high-speed network with works being underway.<ref>In the Ottoman Empire: some parts of lines extending into the middle east would not be incorporated into the Turkish State on its creation</ref> Bursa will be connected to the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway, a new line is currently being constructed from Polatlı to İzmir via Afyon is under construction along with some other lines from Yerköy (on the line from Ankara to Sivas) to Kayseri and another one from Halkalı to Edirne on Turkey's European border with Bulgaria.<ref name="tcdd1"/>

Among the trains used by the Turkhish high speed rail services are Siemens Velaro TR, the same models used in InterCity Express (ICE) trains in Germany.<ref name=":0" /> The Turkish also use the Spanish CAF made TCDD HT65000.<ref name=":0" /> In 2025, the high speed network transported 100 million passengers annually.<ref name=":1">https://www.railway.supply/en/turkey-high-speed-rail-network-surpasses-100-million-passengers/</ref>

===Passenger transport=== In addition to high speed lines, there are several regular trains for passenger transportation. Almost all the network is covered by these passenger trains, which are mostly departing every day.<ref>Uysal, Onur. [http://railturkey.org/2014/03/05/traveling-by-train-in-turkey/ "Traveling by Train in Turkey"], ''Rail Turkey'', 5 March 2014</ref> In addition to high speed trains, there are several types of wagons being used for railway transport like pulman, sleeping cars, couchette, dmu and emu sets. In 2019, 164.7 million passengers used the Turkish rail network.<ref name=europa>{{cite web|url= https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/images/9/97/Rail_passenger_transport_by_type_of_transport_for_main_undertakings%2C_2018-2019_%28thousand_passengers%29.png|title= Rail passenger transport by type of transport for main undertakings, 2018–2019 (thousand passengers)|website=ec.europa.eu|access-date=24 September 2021}}</ref>

As of May 2016, there are several construction points (mainly for signalization or electrification) in Turkish rail network which is causing complete or partial closures.<ref>Uysal, Onur. [http://railturkey.org/2014/05/16/railway-closure-program-2014/ "Where is Closed in Turkish Railways?"], ''Rail Turkey'', 16 May 2014</ref>

===Railway links with adjacent countries=== {{See also|Turkish_State_Railways#Railway_links_with_adjacent_countries}}

====West neighboring countries==== * {{flagicon|Bulgaria}} Bulgaria – open – {{RailGauge|sg}} – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC * {{flagicon|Greece}} Greece – open – {{RailGauge|sg}} – 25 kV, 50 Hz AC (but no trains running since February 2011 due to economic crisis in Greece)

====East neighboring countries==== * {{flagicon|Georgia}} Georgia – open – break-of-gauge {{RailGauge|sg}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}} at Akhalkalaki (Georgia) * {{flagicon|Armenia}} Armenia – closed – break-of-gauge {{RailGauge|sg}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}} (see the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway line)<ref>Railway Gazette International – January 2008 p51</ref> * {{flagicon|Azerbaijan}} Azerbaijan – no direct link – break-of-gauge {{RailGauge|sg}}/{{RailGauge|1520mm}} via Georgia (see the Kars-Gyumri-Tbilisi railway line), via Iran (toward Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic). * {{flagicon|Iran}} Iran – via Lake Van train ferry – {{RailGauge|sg}}

The Iranian rail network is connected to the Turkish rail network via the Lake Van train ferry close to the border – which creates a serious bottleneck.<ref>[http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/ppp/reports/Turkey2001.pdf Country report of Republic of Turkey in the field of transport and telecommunication] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607183343/http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/ppp/reports/Turkey2001.pdf |date=7 June 2011 }} page 3, United Nations Economic and Social commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) ''www.unescap.org''</ref><ref group="note">Not only do trains need to be split for ferry transport, but the 91km water journey takes 5 hours. (See [http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/Publications/TIS_pubs/tarsc_fulltext.pdf Economic and social commissioner for Asia and the Pacific: Development of the Trans-Asian Railway in the southern corridor of Asia-Europe routes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110419053801/http://www.unescap.org/ttdw/Publications/TIS_pubs/tarsc_fulltext.pdf |date=19 April 2011 }} United Nations, page 42, Peter Hodgkinson ''www.unescap.org''</ref><ref name=closed/> In 2007 an agreement was made to create a rail link between the two countries.<ref>[http://yenisafak.com.tr/English/?t=27.07.2007&i=58392 Turkey, Iran agree on joint railway] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023143222/http://yenisafak.com.tr/English/?t=27.07.2007&i=58392 |date=23 October 2012 }} 27 July 2007 ''yenisafak.com.tr''</ref>

For the Caucasus region and Central Asia via Georgia and Azerbaijan, the Kars–Tbilisi–Baku railway) was finally opened in 2017, involving a break of gauge from {{RailGauge|1435mm}} to {{RailGauge|1520mm}}. The line has a target of transporting 17 million tons of cargo per year.<ref>Uysal, Onur. [http://railturkey.org/2013/06/15/baku-tbilisi-kars-railway/ "Baku Tbilisi Kars Railway to be Opened in 2014"], ''Rail Turkey'', 15 June 2013</ref> This railway by-passes the Kars–Gyumri–Tbilisi railway line that connected Turkey to Armenia but was closed in 1993<ref>[http://www.europarl.europa.eu/activities/committees/studies/download.do?file=18288 The closed Armenia-Turkey border:Economic and social effects, including those on the people; and implications for the overall situation in the region] Study produced for the European Parliament's Committee on Foreign Affairs Committee on Development, Author :Nathalie Tocci, Co-authors: Burcu Gültekin-Punsmann, Licínia Simão, Nicolas Tavitian, August 2007, (specifics p14) ''www.europarl.europa.eu''</ref> during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War; in 2009 the possibility of re-opening the line was stated by the Armenian transport minister.<ref>[http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20091111/39178/ Armenia-Turkey railway network may be launched in couple of days] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100819225629/http://www.armtown.com/news/en/pan/20091111/39178 |date=19 August 2010}} 11 November 2009 ''www.armtown.com''</ref>

====South neighboring countries==== * {{flagicon|Iraq}} Iraq – no direct link, traffic routed via Syria – {{RailGauge|sg}} * {{flagicon|Syria}} Syria – closed because of the Syrian civil war – {{RailGauge|sg}}

Trains to Iraq must be routed via Syria; the section of the tracks within Syria, between the Turkish and Iraqi borders is 81 km long. From 5 March 2012 due to the civil war in Syria, all rail services from Turkey to Syria were stopped; as a consequence freight going from Turkey to Iraq was routed to Nusaybin in southeast Turkey, from where it was transported to Iraq by truck.<ref name=closed>{{citation| url = http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/no-turkish-trains-arrive-in-syria-iraq-for-months.aspx?pageID=238&nID=31058&NewsCatID=344| title= No Turkish Trains Arrive in Syria, Iraq for Months| first = Ali| last = Kayalar|work =www.hurriyetdailynews.com|date = 27 September 2012|publisher =Hurriyet Daily News}}</ref>

== Planned expansion == Turkey is planning to construct a high speed line between Ankara and Samsun by 2030.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=B |first=Andy |date=2025-04-24 |title=The Impressive Growth of High-Speed Rail in Turkey |url=https://www.andybtravels.com/news/turkey-high-speed-rail |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=AndyBTravels}}</ref> Kırıkkale will be a stop between Ankara and Sivas.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=International |first=Railway Gazette |title=Work starts on Kırıkkale – Samsun high speed line |url=https://www.railwaygazette.com/infrastructure/work-starts-on-krkkale-samsun-high-speed-line/68683.article |access-date=2025-08-14 |website=Railway Gazette International}}</ref> By 2026 a high speed line is set to be opened between Ankara and Kayseri.<ref name=":0" /> Another line is under construction from Ankara to İzmir on the Aegean coast.<ref name=":0" /> Turkey is planning to build a high speed rail line from Istanbul to Edirne as well as to Kapıkule which is on the Bulgarian border and will thus allow Turkey to establish a high speed line with Bulgaria.<ref name=":0" /> By 2030 a high speed line is planned between Istanbul and Ankara.<ref name=":1" />

==Urban rail==

===Commuter=== Suburban systems in Turkey as listed below: {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! City ! System ! Operator ! Electrification ! Gauge ! Bidirectional traffic ! Notes |- | rowspan="2" | Istanbul | Marmaray | rowspan="3" | TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. | rowspan="9" | 25 kV, 50 Hz AC Overhead line | rowspan="9" | {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} | rowspan="9" | Right-hand traffic | |- | Halkalı-Bahçeşehir Rail System | |- | Ankara | Başkentray | |- | İzmir | İZBAN | İZBAN A.Ş. | |- | Gaziantep | Gaziray | rowspan="5" | TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. | |- | Sakarya | Adaray | |- | Konya | Konyaray | Tender phase |- | Afyon | Afray | Planning phase |- |Kayseri |İncesu-Gömeç Rail System |On Hold (Awaiting rolling stock allocation by TCDD) |}

===Metro=== Six cities in Turkey have Metro system, listed as follows:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! City ! System ! Electrification ! Conductor system ! Gauge ! Bidirectional traffic ! Opened |- | Istanbul | Istanbul Metro | 750 V DC & 1,500 V DC | Third rail & Overhead line | rowspan="8" | {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} | rowspan="8" | Right-hand traffic | 3 September 1989 |- | Ankara | Ankara Metro | rowspan="2" | 750 V DC | rowspan="2" | Third rail | 20 August 1996 |- | İzmir | İzmir Metro | 22 April 2000 |- | Bursa | Bursaray | 1,500 V DC | rowspan="2" | Overhead line | 24 April 2002 |- | Adana | Adana Metro | 750 V DC | 14 May 2010 |- | Konya | Konya Metro | 750 V DC ?? | Overhead line ?? | ''Under construction'' |- | Gebze | Gebze Metro | 750 V DC ?? | Overhead line ?? | ''Under construction'' |- | Mersin | Mersin Metro | 750 V DC ?? | Overhead line ?? | ''Under construction'' |}

A further metro system is planned in Gaziantep, and light rail systems are under consideration in both Antalya and Kayseri.{{Citation needed|date=August 2025}}

===Tram & Light Rail=== There are also several tram and light rail systems in many cities, listed as follows:

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! City ! System ! Electrification ! Gauge ! Bidirectional traffic ! Opened |- | Istanbul | Istanbul Tram | rowspan="9" | 750 V DC Overhead line | rowspan="9" | {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} | rowspan="11" | Right-hand traffic | 13 June 1992 |- | İzmir | İzmir Tram | 11 April 2017 |- | İzmit | Akçaray | 17 June 2017 |- | Bursa | Burtram | 13 October 2013 |- | Antalya | AntRay | December 2009 |- | Konya | Konya Tram | 28 September 1992 |- | Gaziantep | Gaziantep Tram | 1 March 2011 |- | Kayseri | Kayseray | 1 August 2009 |- | Samsun | Samsun Tram |10 October 2010 |- | Trabzon | Trabzon Tram | | Planned | ''Under construction'' |- | Eskişehir | Estram | 750 V DC Overhead line | {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}} | 24 December 2004 |}

===Nostalgic tramway===

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! City ! System ! Electrification ! Conductor system ! Gauge ! Bidirectional traffic |- | Istanbul | Istanbul Tram | 600 V DC | rowspan="3" | Overhead line | rowspan="2" | {{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}} | Partially |- | Bursa | Burtram | ? | Partially |- | Antalya | Antalya Tram | 600 V DC | {{RailGauge|sg|allk=on}} | Partially |- |Ankara |Ankara National Park Tram | ? | ? |{{RailGauge|1000mm|allk=on}} |No |}

==Companies==

===Turkish State Railways=== {{Main|Turkish State Railways}} In combination with its affiliates, the State Railways of the Republic of Turkey (''Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları'', TCDD) have a monopoly on passenger<ref group="note">Excluding urban mass transit systems, and tram networks.</ref> and freight rail transportation, as well as the manufacturing of rolling stock and tracks.<ref>[http://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2009/08/13/000333038_20090813012054/Rendered/PDF/499350PID0TUR01ture0rev0Box0341971B.pdf Project information document (PID) : Railways restructuring project (Turkey)] World Bank, 2009, ''www-wds.worldbank.org''</ref> The organization was created in 1927 to operate the former railway lines of the Ottoman Empire that were left within the borders of the Republic of Turkey whose boundaries were defined with the Treaty of Lausanne in 1923. Additionally, major ports are also operated by the company.<ref name="tcdd1"/>

====Affiliated companies==== Three affiliated companies of the TCDD produce rolling stock for the Turkish railway system: *TÜLOMSAŞ (''Türkiye Lokomotif ve Motor Sanayi A.Ş.'') produces diesel and electric locomotives and related components; the company has produced locomotives under license from numerous companies over the years, including Krauss-Maffei, GM-EMD, Toshiba and Alstom.<ref>[http://www.tulomsas.com.tr/upload/dosya/77.pdf TÜLOMSAŞ Company brochure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091229044714/http://www.tulomsas.com.tr/upload/dosya/77.pdf |date=29 December 2009 }} ''www.tulomsas.com.tr''</ref> *TÜVASAŞ (''Türkiye Vagon Sanayi A.Ş.'') manufactures coaching stock as well as diesel hydraulic railcars,<ref>[http://www.tuvasas.com.tr/ TUVASAS] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071125092352/http://www.tuvasas.com.tr/ |date=25 November 2007 }} Company website ''www.tuvasas.com''</ref><ref>[http://www.janes.com/articles/Janes-World-Railways/Tuvasas-Manufacturers-and-services--Locomotives-and-passenger-vehicles-Turkey.html Tuvasas, Manufacturers and services – Locomotives and passenger vehicles (Turkey)] ''www.janes.com''</ref> and has a technology transfer agreement with Rotem of Korea to manufacture DMUs<ref>[http://www.hyundai-rotem.co.kr/Common/uFileDownload.asp?Idx=9&Fgbn=1&Brd=EngWebzine Hyundai Rotem newsletter No.15] page 2, 2008, ''www.hyundai-rotem.co.kr''</ref> as well as a joint venture with Rotem, EUROTEM, to outfit and test high-speed train sets and suburban trains.<ref>[http://www.rotem.co.kr/Common/uFileDownload.asp?Idx=10&Fgbn=1&Brd=EngWebzine Hyundai Rotem newsletter No.16] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226075655/http://www.rotem.co.kr/Common/uFileDownload.asp?Idx=10&Fgbn=1&Brd=EngWebzine |date=26 February 2012 }} page 3, 2009, ''www.hyundai-rotem.co.kr''</ref><ref>[http://www.tumgazeteler.com/?a=2272495 İlk hızlı tren fabrikası üretime başlıyor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717114236/http://www.tumgazeteler.com/?a=2272495 |date=17 July 2011 }} Plant begins production of the first high speed train, October 2008, www.tumgazeteler.com</ref> *TÜDEMSAŞ (''Türkiye Demiryolu Makinaları Sanayii A.Ş.'') produces and repairs freight wagons.<ref>[http://www.tudemsas.gov.tr/ TÜDEMSAŞ] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180512202026/http://tudemsas.gov.tr/ |date=12 May 2018 }} Company website ''www.tudemsas.gov.tr''</ref>

==Statistical information== As of 2021, there were {{Convert|10546|km|4=0|abbr=on}} of main railway lines in Turkey, of which 14% are double-track and 51% are electrified.<ref name="uic2022">[https://uic.org/IMG/pdf/uic-railway-statistics-synopsis-2022.pdf UIC Railway Statistics Synopsis 2022] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209083959/https://uic.org/IMG/pdf/uic-railway-statistics-synopsis-2022.pdf |date=9 December 2022 }} ''uic.org''</ref>

In 2008, the most common rail weight is ~49 kg/m with 69% of track, the remainder being of lighter weight rail, except for 150 km of 60 kg/m rail. Similarly, 69% of sleepers are of the concrete type, with the remainder being wood (~19%) and steel (~12%). Over 700 tunnels exist, with a total length of 181 km; the majority (~76%) are under 1 km long and only one of them has a length of over 4 km. 1,316 steel bridges (average length 22 m) and over 10,000 concrete bridges (average length 2.9 m) exist, the majority (99%) are suitable for axle loads over 20 t, with 40% allowing axle loads of 22.5 tonnes.<ref name="r2008">[http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/kurumsal/TCDDANNUALREPORT2008.pdf TCDD annual report 2008] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201231431/http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/kurumsal/TCDDANNUALREPORT2008.pdf |date=1 February 2010 }} ''www.tcdd.gov.tr''</ref>

Also in 2008, there were 64 electric locomotives and 549 diesel locomotives in Turkey, with availabilities of 81 and 84 percent, respectively. Additionally, 50 steam locomotives exist, of which 2 are kept in active order. In addition to the 83 EMUs and 44 DMUs for passenger transport, there were 995 coaches in Turkey (830 of which were in working order.) Over 17,000 wagons of various types make up the rest of the fleet.<ref name="r2008"/>

=== Rail gauge in Turkey=== All high-speed and main rail lines use standard-gauge railway with the exception of the Bursa and Istanbul nostalgic tramways, which use the metre-gauge railway.

== Proposed lines ==

* Kars to Nakhchivan in Azerbaijan<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 May 2010 |title=Turkey Plans to Construct Rail Line Linking Azerbaijan |url=http://www.railway-technology.com/news/news84538.html?WT.mc_id=DN_News}}</ref>

==See also== {{Commons category|Rail transport in Turkey}} *Çamlık Railway Museum *TCDD Open Air Steam Locomotive Museum *Istanbul Railway Museum *Rahmi M. Koç Museum

{{columns-list|colwidth=30em| * Rail transport in Turkey * Ankara Suburban Railway * Haydarpaşa Terminal * High-speed rail in Turkey * Istanbul-Damascus-Medina Railway * Istanbul-Konya-Baghdad Railway * Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway * List of railway stations in Turkey * List of TCDD routes * List of train accidents in Turkey * Orient Express * Sirkeci Terminal }}

==References and notes==

===Notes=== <references group="note"/>

===References=== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Sister project links|auto=yes|d=yes}} {{Asia in topic|Rail transport in}} {{Rail transport in Europe}} {{Turkey topics}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Rail Transport In Turkey}} Category:Rail transport in Turkey