Türkiye’s high-speed trains transport over 93M passengers in 15 years

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated Türkiye’s high-speed trains had carried over 93 million passengers since the first line’s launch in 2009.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency (AA) on Nov. 30, Uraloglu shared updates on railway investments across Türkiye, mentioning that new projects are underway to further enhance passenger comfort and reduce travel times.

Rising demand spurs new high-speed train line projects

Highlighting the expansion of high-speed train lines, Uraloglu said: “Passengers can currently travel directly to 11 cities by high-speed trains. In 2023, 11.9 million passengers used our high-speed trains, and we expect this number to reach 12.4 million in 2024.”

“Currently, Türkiye’s rail network extends 13,919 kilometers (8648.8 miles), of which 11,668 kilometers are conventional lines, while 2,251 kilometers are high-speed,” he added.

The minister added that 6,978 kilometers of railway projects have been completed, while construction on 3,776 kilometers is ongoing, and planning is underway for an additional 5,785 kilometers.