• To achieve a shift of freight transport towards a safer, environmentally friendly transport system reflecting a more balanced modal split; and
• To support an increase in the market share of railway transport in Türkiye

 

Basic principles of transport economics state that rail is typically more competitive over longer distances, and road transport has the advantage for shorter distances. However, in Türkiye, road transport carries goods for an average length of haul of 606 km, while rail carries cargo for an average of only 457 km.

Road haulage average distances are 581 km in the EU’ and in the US, 445 km. In this context, the obvious goal should be for rail to successfully compete for long haul traffic, with road transport making the shorter “last mile” movements to the customers’ location, for those customers with no rail access.

Turkey’s major exports include automobiles, auto parts, iron and steel, construction materials, wheat/flour, and clothing; all good candidates for rail transport. As part of the 11th Development Plan, the transportation of these commodities is a target for improving productivity during the coming years.

Due to recent international developments in transport links, there are also expected to be significant increases in income for the railway from transit traffic. Türkiye is indeed well-placed to generate greater transit traffic with the completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and renewed initiative by China to develop the new rail link from southern Xinjiang (Kashgar) through Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan to the Caspian Sea (via Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan). In fact, the EBRD is currently conducting a study of Central Asian trade to Europe via the Caucasus and Türkiye. These developments will undoubtedly enhance Türkiye’s position as a strategic link in this transit route.