The Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Bakan Uraloğlu, released a written statement on the occasion of the 6th anniversary of the inauguration of Başkentray, an important part of Ankara’s urban transportation system, stating that Başkentray has served 89 million passengers to date. Uraloğlu emphasized that they have been working tirelessly for Ankara for the past 22 years, extending the city’s 23.1-kilometer rail system line to 103.6 kilometers and investing 601 billion 510 million Turkish Liras in transportation and communication infrastructure.
He also pointed out that with Başkentray, the traffic on the roads to Eskişehir and Istanbul has significantly decreased. Uraloğlu mentioned that they have implemented several metro line projects to provide convenience in transportation for the people of Ankara, such as the Kızılay-Çayyolu, Batıkent-Sincan-Törekent, and Tandoğan-Keçiören metro lines. Furthermore, last year they launched the Atatürk Culture Center-Gar-Kızılay Metro, providing seamless metro transportation from Keçiören to Kızılay.
In the context of the Başkentray Project, Uraloğlu stated that the existing railway lines were completely renewed and designed to be suitable for high-speed trains, suburban trains, and conventional trains. He emphasized that metro-standard suburban services between Kayaş and Sincan have begun with Başkentray, and the number of tracks between Ankara and Marşandiz, Marşandiz and Sincan, as well as Ankara and Kayaş, have been increased from 4 to 6, 3 to 5, and 2 to 4 tracks respectively. Eryaman YHT Gar is also now operational as a result of this project, providing both high-speed train and suburban services.
Uraloğlu highlighted that in the past 22 years, Turkey has made significant advancements in transportation and communication infrastructure under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s vision of “Turkey Century.” He mentioned that they have implemented major urban rail system projects, such as the completion of the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport Metro Line, the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme Rail System Line, and the Bakırköy Sahil-Bahçelievler-Güngören-Bağcılar Kirazlı metro lines. Additionally, various tramway lines in Kayseri, Antalya, and Gaziantep have been put into service.
Uraloğlu also highlighted that they have completed 416 kilometers of urban rail system projects in Turkey, improving, renewing, and developing the country’s railroads, ultimately changing the country’s landscape. He mentioned that the total length of railway lines has increased from 10,948 kilometers to 13,919 kilometers, with the construction of 2,251 kilometers of high-speed train lines, increasing the length of signaled railway lines from 2,505 kilometers to 8,046 kilometers, and electric railway lines from 2,122 kilometers to 7,142 kilometers.
