SHORT, MEDIUM AND LONG TERM GOALS IN RAILWAY INDUSTRY – Dr. İlhami Pektaş

As ARUS, the 12th Transport and Communication Council we participated at Atatürk Airport Activity Center on 6-7-8 October. During the Council, where the transportation and communication systems and policies of the future are discussed in international level, the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu announced the short, medium and long term new goals that will draw our new roadmap until 2035.

13 ministers and deputy ministers from 55 countries, senior executives of international organizations, experts trained in transportation and communication, 105 companies and 20 thousands of participants showed interest in the Forum.

At the 12th Transport and Communication Council, strategies and action plans that will shape the future of the Turkish transportation and communication sectors and maximize the benefit of all stakeholders by using the available resources in the most effective way were considered and evaluated, and short, medium and long-term goals of the sector were set.

In this direction, the short, medium and long term goals of the Railway sector, which were announced by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu at the closing meeting, are presented as below.

SHORT TERM GOALS

1. Establishment of structures and mechanisms that will ensure a sustainable corporate management approach in railway SEEs and among sectoral stakeholders
2. Publication of the Railway Framework Law to meet the current needs and requirements of the sector
3. Making legal arrangements to encourage combined transport with the initial investment and energy costs of railway train operators
4. Establishment of data monitoring systems, asset management systems and maintenance management systems by providing digital transformation in railways
5. Preparation and implementation of the Railway Safety Strategy Document and Action Plan
6. Increasing the share of the private sector in passenger and freight transport by increasing the use of railway infrastructure capacity
7. Receiving transportation services from private railway train operators within the scope of public service obligation of railway passenger transport
8. Increasing the railway line length from 12,803 km to 14,550 km
9. Increasing the share of the double track railway length in the total mainline from 13% to 19%
10. Increasing the rate of electrified lines from 46% to 54%
11. Increasing the signal line ratio from 53% to 65%
12. Increasing the rate of rail freight transport within land transport to 11%.
13. Increasing the rate of rail passenger transport in land transport to 4%
14. Increasing the existing fleet of tractive stock and hauled stock
15. Developing business models in accordance with the Logistics Master Plan to increase the efficiency and productivity of logistics centers
16. Increasing the number of logistics centers from 12 to 17 in order to increase rail freight transport
17. Increasing the total length of junction line to 580 km in order to improve combined and freight transportation by increasing the junction line connections with logistics centers, factories, industries, OIZs and ports with cargo potential
18. Ensuring that companies with public legal entity and business enterprise carry out cargo transportation by rail
19. Production of Rail System Vehicles and sub-components with minimum 80% domestic and national resources
20. Increasing the urban rail system network to 300 km in compliance with high standards, safety and country needs
21. Expanding train set (EMU+DMU) operation in conventional regional and medium distance mainline passenger transport
22. Providing the qualified human resources needed by the sector and implementing vocational and technical training programs for this purpose.
23. Completion and implementation of project studies to make stations, stations and facilities barrier-free
24. Increasing touristic train routes
25. Implementation of a computer-aided planning system to optimize the machinist planning
26. Implementation of the locomotive and environmental camera tracking system
27. Developing the national railway industry and implementing the R&D and technology projects needed by the sector in cooperation with TUBITAK, Scientific Institutions and Universities
28. Preparation of the Railway Energy and Climate Change Action Plan, determination and implementation of strategies to reduce carbon emissions
29. Implementation of a modern customer relationship management model based on customer loyalty program and customer satisfaction

MEDIUM TERM GOALS

1. Increasing the rate of rail freight transport within land transport to 17%
2. Increasing the rate of rail passenger transport in land transport to 7.5%
3. Increasing the railway line length from 14,550 km to 21,130 km
4. Increasing the share of the double track railway length in the total mainline from 19% to 33%
5. Increasing the electrified line rate from 54% to 90%
6. Increasing the signal line ratio from 65% to 90%
7. Spreading and branding of the developed National Signal System
8. Increasing the number of logistics centers from 17 to 26 in order to increase rail freight transport
9. Increasing the urban rail system network to 1000 km in compliance with high standards, safety and country needs
10. Increasing the passenger satisfaction rate above 95% in High Speed Trains
11. Increasing the annual number of passengers transported by High Speed Train (YHT) from 8.3 millions (2019) to 10 millions
12. Increasing the annual number of passengers transported on Marmaray and Başkentray from 138.5 millions (2019) to 205 millions
13. Increasing the annual number of passengers transported by conventional mainline and regional trains from 17.7 millions (2019) to 22 millions
14. Increasing the annual amount of cargo transported by TCDD Taşımacılık Inc. from 29.9 million tons (2020) to 50 million tons
15. Increasing the share of international transport in total freight transports carried out by TCDD Taşımacılık Inc. from 11% (2020) to 15%
16. Increasing the share of electric mainline locomotives in the vehicle park of TCDD Taşımacılık Inc. in the total mainline locomotives from 22% (2021) to 30%
17. Increasing the length of the urban rail system from 290 km to 400 km within the national railway network
18. Meeting 35% of the total energy need from renewable energy sources
19. Increasing infrastructure technical compatibility in order to take an active role in the operation of international trade corridors
20. Construction and operation of the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed train line, suitable for 350 km/h
21. Making Turkey’s the most reliable transportation brand
22. Becoming the brand that carries the most freight and passengers in Europe

Becoming the brand that carries the most freight and passengers in Europe

LONG TERM GOALS

1. Increasing the railway line length from 21,130 km to 28,590 km
2. Increasing the share of the double track railway length in the total mainline from 33% to 38%
3. Increasing the number of High-Speed Train (YHT) and Speed Train (HT) trips to 272 in total
4. Increasing the number of High-Speed Train and Speed Train sets from 31 to 120.

In order to reach these determined goals, in line with the realities, potential and vision of our country;

The studies will continue mainly regarding the issues as follows: Expanding the railway network, Creating a competitive environment, Developing passenger and freight transport, Raising infrastructure standards, Increasing the rate of signaled and electrified lines, Supporting domestic and national industry, Eliminating the problems experienced in integration and competition with other transportation modes, Reviewing and improving the project criteria, Ensuring direct access to significant freight centers, Interaction with the EU and improving international corridors, Reducing the maintenance-repair and operation costs, Increasing the number of specialist personnel and Maintaining public service obligations.

We wish our achievements to be beneficial for our country.