Representatives of the logistics industry from the Organization of Turkic States members Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey and the observer countries Hungary, Turkmenistan and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus attended the Organization of Turkish States Logistics Forum held in Istanbul between 13-14 September 2023 in various sessions. came together.
Participating in the session titled "Turkish States Railway Connectivity Potential and Perspectives" held within the scope of the Organization of Turkish States Multimodal Transport and Logistics Forum, TCDD Transportation General Manager Ufuk Yalçın evaluated the importance of the railway sector in logistics and evaluated the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway line and the Middle Corridor.
“By rail, freight transportation is possible from Turkey to Russia in 8 days, from China to Turkey in 12 days, and from China to Europe in 18 days.”
TCDD Transportation General Manager Ufuk Yalçın said that the results of this forum, which aims to develop multi-modal transportation routes along the Central Corridor and Southern Corridor, increase cooperation, and increase the efficiency, sustainability and durability of global supply chains, will contribute greatly to the development of the transportation and logistics policies of the Organization of Turkish States and the countries in the region. Pointing out that he will provide
“From our country to many points in Europe via Kapıkule, such as Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Hungary, Slovakia, Austria, Czechia, Germany and Poland; via Kapıköy to Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan; Freight transportation is carried out by rail to Russia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and China via the BTK line.
Our country's railways provide freight transportation from Turkey to Russia in 8 days, from China to Turkey in 12 days, and from China to Europe in 18 days.
"In our country, 2022 million 4 thousand tons of international railway freight transportation was carried out in 421, reaching the best values of all time."
Ufuk Yalçın emphasized that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line, which was put into operation on October 30, 2017, and the Iron Silk Road come to the fore thanks to the many advantages it offers, such as being more economical, shorter, safer and the climate is more suitable. “The Trans-Caspian International Transport Route, called the 'Iron Silk Road' or 'Central Corridor', which passes through China, Kazakhstan, the Caspian Sea, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and reaches Europe, increases the competitiveness of countries and strengthens our economic, social and cultural cooperation. "It strengthens the economy, ensures the continuity of trade and serves world peace and brotherhood," he said.
Stating that uninterrupted railway transportation between the Asian and European continents has become possible with the Marmaray Bosphorus Tube Crossing, Yalçın stated that 2023 TEUs and 65.738 million 1 thousand tons of cargo, including conventional transportation, have been transported by the end of May 470 from the date of operation of the BTK line.
Stating that a new North-South corridor has been created with the Turkey-Russia railway transportation initiated via the BTK Line, enabling the transportation of different product groups in different destinations, Yalçın stated that the transportation between Turkey and Iran has also increased and that it is aimed to reach 1 million tons of these transportation in the first stage.
Ufuk Yalçın continued his words as follows:
“Freight transportation continues with Central Asian countries via Iran/Turkmenistan.
Within the scope of the Economic Cooperation Organization, Istanbul-Tehran-Islamabad (ITI) Freight Train services were restarted between Turkey and Pakistan via Iran, and the first train completed its 5 thousand 981 kilometer track between Pakistan (Islamabad) and Turkey (Ankara) in 13 days. In the coming period, it is aimed to regularize the services on the Turkey-Pakistan line and to provide European connection by passing Marmaray.
Due to the flood disaster in Pakistan, 13 tons of aid materials were delivered to those in need in Pakistan in 334 wagons with 7.330 trains.
Again, with the aid trains sent to Afghanistan via Iran, they were sent to Afghanistan in 6 batches; A total of 17 thousand 7 tons of relief materials were sent by 134 trains.
Within the scope of the United Nations World Food Program, aid transportation carried out by our Organization from our country to Afghanistan via the Iran (İnceburun) - Turkmenistan (Etrek) border connection continues.
The loads carried by wagons belonging to TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş., passing Iran İnceburun to Turkmenistan Etrek, are transferred to Turkmen wagons at Etrek and reach Turgundi, Afghanistan's Turkmenistan border station.
"Last year, 305 tons of cooler and freezer equipment were sent to Uzbekistan from Manisa (Muradiye) and Afyon, and reached Tashkent, completing the distance of 4 thousand 996 kilometers in 25 days."
TCDD Transportation Inc. Pointing out that the General Directorate's train border crossing operations are carried out in 5 to 7 minutes with electronic integration, and that both time and cost are saved with the CIM/SMGS common transport document, Yalçın said that with container block train services between China-Turkey-Europe, 200' per year in the medium term. He emphasized that in the long term, it is aimed to operate 1.500 block trains per year and reduce the duration to 10 days.
Yalçın pointed out that the railway projects that improve freight transportation in our country are continuing, and in this context, the Kars Logistics Center was opened, and the Mersin-Adana-Osmaniye-Gaziantep railway line will strengthen the railway connection from our country to Europe. Halkalı-Çerkezköy-Ispartakule-Halkalı He stated that the construction of the line section as double-track, electric and signaled, suitable for 160-200 km/h speed, is continuing.
Stating that he believes that this forum organized by the Organization of Turkish States (TDT) will contribute to the development of multi-modal transportation routes and increased cooperation along the Central Corridor and Southern Corridor, TCDD Transportation General Manager Ufuk Yalçın wished the forum to be beneficial.