Uraloğlu highlighted that the high-speed rail network directly benefits 35% of the population residing in the 11 provinces it serves. When combined with other modes of transportation, this figure rises to approximately 53% of the population.

The operation of high-speed rail in Türkiye commenced in March 2009 with the Ankara-Eskişehir route and has since expanded to cover 11 provinces. Uraloğlu emphasized that Türkiye ranks as the 8th country globally and the 6th country in Europe in terms of high-speed rail (YHT) technology adoption.

Notably, YHT services are available on various lines, including Ankara-Istanbul, Ankara-Konya, Ankara-Eskişehir, Konya-Istanbul, Ankara-Karaman, Istanbul-Karaman, Eskişehir-Istanbul, and the recently inaugurated Ankara-Sivas line on April 26, 2023.

With an impressive frequency of 66 trips per day on these lines, Uraloğlu stated that around 40,000 passengers enjoy the comfort and efficiency of high-speed rail daily. He emphasized that the high-speed rail network significantly improves the lives of the population in the 11 provinces it serves, directly benefiting 35% of residents, and reaching approximately 53% through combined transportation options.

Uraloğlu revealed that to date, nearly 76 million passengers have traveled by high-speed rail. The service operates directly to Ankara, Eskişehir, Konya, Bilecik, Sakarya, Kocaeli, Istanbul, Karaman, Yozgat, Kırıkkale, and Sivas, resulting in significant time savings. Additionally, combined transport options, including bus or train connections, extend accessibility to other cities such as Malatya, Bursa, Kütahya, Tavşanlı, Afyonkarahisar, Denizli, Izmir, Antalya, Manavgat, Alanya, and Adana.

Uraloğlu emphasized that utilizing combined transport with high-speed rail, along with bus or train connections, offers substantial time efficiencies compared to traveling by bus alone. (ILKHA)