Newsletters
Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced plans for a super high-speed train project that will reduce travel time between Ankara and Istanbul to just 80 minutes, with trains capable of reaching speeds up to 350 kilometers per hour (217.4 miles per second).
"We are designing a super high-speed train. It will travel at 350 kilometers per hour. We are working to reduce the Ankara-Istanbul journey to just 80 minutes," Uraloglu said during his address at the National Turkish Student Union (MTTB) National Technology Academy program in Fatih, Istanbul, on Saturday.
The minister detailed several major railway projects currently underway across the country, emphasizing that Türkiye's rail network will expand from its current 13,919 kilometers to approximately 28,500 kilometers when ongoing projects are completed.
"We will be conducting the tender for the Northern Railway Project this year, which will cross the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. We will connect all of northern Istanbul with a new high-speed railway from Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Istanbul Airport and Catalca," Uraloglu stated.
He highlighted the 505-kilometer Ankara-Izmir High-Speed Train project, noting, "We aim to reach Afyonkarahisar by the end of next year and Izmir by the end of the following year."
Uraloglu pointed out the significant investments made in Istanbul's transportation infrastructure, saying, "We have added approximately 162 kilometers of rail systems to the city. Another 26 kilometers is currently under construction. When these are completed, the rail systems in Istanbul will reach 380-400 kilometers."
The minister emphasized that Istanbul needs about 1,004 kilometers of metro lines to eliminate transportation as the city's primary problem. "We have completed 400 kilometers, and 600 more kilometers need to be built," he added.
During his presentation, Uraloglu detailed the progress in Türkiye's transportation sector over the past 23 years. He noted that the country's divided highways have increased from 6,101 kilometers to 29,700 kilometers, including highways, while the number of vehicles has grown from 8.5 million to over 32 million.
"The average speed has increased to 90 kilometers per hour," he said, adding that when the highway network reaches 8,500 kilometers, it will generally meet Türkiye's highway needs.
The minister also discussed other mega projects, including the North Marmara Highway, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, and the Istanbul-Izmir Highway, while announcing the commencement of the Ankara-Kirikkale-Delice Highway and Ankara-Alanya Highway construction.
Uraloglu once again revealed plans to regulate social media platforms, particularly for younger users. "We believe that young people between 13-16 years should only access social media with their parents' permission, and those under 13 should not access it at all," he stated.
The minister mentioned that they have discussed implementation strategies with social media platforms, with Meta already adopting some recommendations. "We will also make legal arrangements regarding this. I would like to note that the most developed countries are more sensitive to this issue," he added.
1 min read
2 min read
