Pamukova Train Wreck on Its Ninth Year

Pamukova Disaster or Pamukova Train Accident, train accident that occurred in Pamukova district of Sakarya on July 22, 2004. The train named Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu, which made the accelerated train service between Ankara and Istanbul, derailed due to excessive speed, causing 230 deaths and 41 injuries out of a total of 80 passengers. The accident occurred in the first step of the ongoing privatization process and the newly launched high-speed train project within the Turkish Republic State Railways (TCDD). After the accident that occurred due to the hasty transition between the Ankara-Istanbul train line, which is the busiest line in terms of passenger numbers, despite the insufficient infrastructure, the Minister of Transport, Binali Yıldırım, did not resign and was not dismissed despite the intense public reaction.

TCDD has been in the scope of privatization, especially since the 1980 years, successive governments have made various reforms in this institution. However, the railways did not receive as much investment in highway transportation as the motorways.

After the accident Dr. According to the report of the Scientific Committee established by Sıddık Binboğa Yarman, the accident occurred as follows: After passing Mekece Station, the train has entered 345 meter / hour speed at 132 speed. The speed limit to be observed on the turn is 80 km. Because of the excessive speed, the left wheel of the second passenger car of the train has been derailed. In the same report, it was stated that there were no warning signs and signs for the mechanics at the site of the accident, 5 hours given for the total journey was not enough and the inappropriate infrastructure was the factors affecting the accident.

In the case in the Sakarya 2.Agır Criminal Court, the defendants' lawyer Salih Ekizler will claim that the parts that were blown by the carriages at the time of the accident were collected by the TCDD officials from the places where they were found and then the evidence was blacked out.

The case is seen in Sakarya 2.Agır Criminal Court. 1.makinist Fikret Karabulut 2 year 6 imprisonment and 100 fine, 2.makinist Recep Sönmez 1 is fined 3 YTL with 333 month imprisonment for the year. Train Chief Köksal Coşkun is acquitted. In addition, the request of the Public Prosecutor to open an investigation against TCDD General Director Süleyman Karaman will be rejected by Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım.

The United Transport Workers' Union (BTS) stated on the anniversary of the win that, despite being found guilty at the rate of 4 / 8, TCDD emphasized that the executives were not brought to justice. In his statement, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TMMOB Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Emin Koramaz criticized the Ministry of Transportation and TCDD Administration and stated that technical warnings made before the accident were not taken into consideration. Koramaz also criticized the privatization policies that have been implemented for years and stated that the roads are being protected against railways and that there is no investment in railway transportation.