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// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Yüksek Hızlı Tren say to its friend? "You're on the right track".

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from YHT)

Yüksek Hızlı Tren
A high-speed train set in Ankara.
Overview
Service typeHigh-speed rail
StatusOperating
LocaleAnatolia
First service13 March 2009
Current operatorTCDD Taşımacılık
Former operatorTurkish State Railways
Ridership12.4 million (2024)[citation needed]
Route
TerminiAnkara
Istanbul or Karaman or Sivas
Distance travelled1,385 km (860.6 mi)
Average journey time1 hour, 50 minutes[1]
Service frequency15x Daily (Ankara-Istanbul)
6x Westbound 3x Eastbound(Ankara-Eskisehir)
4x Daily (Ankara-Konya)
4x Daily (Istanbul-Konya)
2x Daily (Ankara-Karaman)
2x Daily (Ankara-Sivas)
1x Daily (Istanbul-Karaman
1x Daily (Istanbul-Sivas)
On-board services
ClassesFirst, business and economy class
Disabled accessFully accessible
Catering facilitiesOn-board café, and at-seat meals (depending on the route)
Entertainment facilitiesOn-board entertainment
Baggage facilitiesChecked baggage available at selected stations
Technical
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC
Operating speed300 km/h (186 mph) maximum[2]
Track ownerTurkish State Railways

Yüksek Hızlı Tren or YHT (English: High Speed Train) is the high-speed rail service in Turkey, operated by TCDD Transport.[3] Branded as "YHT", they are TCDD Transport's flagship passenger train service and the only high-speed rail service in the country. As of 2025, the network spans 1,385 km (860.6 mi) and serves major cities like Istanbul, Ankara, Eskişehir, İzmit, Konya, and Sivas. Expansion of the system is underway and the network is expected to reach Edirne, Afyonkarahisar, Adana, and İzmir in the 2020s.

On 13 March 2009, the first phase of the high-speed railway, Ankara–Istanbul line, entered service between Ankara and Eskişehir. On 25 July 2014, the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway services began to reach the Pendik railway station on the Asian side of Istanbul,[4] and on 13 March 2019 the services began to reach the Halkalı railway station on the European side of Istanbul, passing through the Marmaray railway tunnel under the Bosphorus strait. There were initially 6 daily departures in both directions.[5]

As of 2026, the current length of the high-speed service stands at 1300km and another 1560km under construction, reaching 11 cities with 15 more cities on the line.[6] All lines are compliant with ETCS Level 2 while some lines additionally retain Level 1 for legacy support.[7] Being the 6th longest network in the world, high speed trains have carried over 100 million passengers and nearly 100 million kilometers since 2009.[8] The 2053 Strategic Plan of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure envisions a 6.196km of high-speed rail, connecting 52 cities with locally manufactured trainsets and signalization solutions.[9]

Service

[edit]

Speed limitations

[edit]

The YHT operates at a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph)[2][10] on high-speed tracks. But the YHT also runs on non-high-speed and renewed tracks like the Köseköy-Gebze section of the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway where its top speed is 160 km/h (99 mph). Naturally, some speed restrictions also apply in urban sections while accessing the central station, especially in Ankara and Istanbul thus increasing journey times. The speed on these sections is expected to increase once renewal projects in urban areas (like Başkentray and second phase of Marmaray) are completed.

Staff

[edit]
A security checkpoint for YHT passengers at the Ankara station

On YHT service, there is usually one train engineer (two on some trains), a train manager (absent in some trips), two train attendants and a café car attendant. Business-class passengers are served meals at their seats if they applied for while buying their tickets. When accessing the trains, passengers must pass a security check like in airports. Maintenance of the sets is done at the Eryaman Yard in Ankara.

Ridership

[edit]

Until 2015, ridership had grown at the expense of TCDD's regular train services and has not dented air traffic demand. [citation needed] Total TCDD services including HSR remain flat.[11] Traffic was affected since 2012 when all services to Istanbul were suspended. A sharp increase in ridership occurred after extra high speed trains started operation. A further increase in 2018 and 2019 is expected with new trainsets becoming operational and the opening of the Istanbul terminals Halkali and Haydarpaşa.[12][needs update]

Ridership
Yearmillion riders±% p.a.
2011 2.56—    
2012 3.35+30.86%
2013 4.21+25.67%
2014 5.09+20.90%
2015 5.69+11.79%
2016 5.9+3.69%
2017 7.1+20.34%
2018 8.1+14.08%
2019 8.3+2.47%
2020 2.8−66.27%
2021 4.3+53.57%
20229.3+116.28%
2023 11.8+26.88%
2024 12.4+5.08%
Source: [11][12][13]

Lines in operation

[edit]
Map of operating YHT services as of 2023.

Ankara–Istanbul

[edit]
A TCDD HT65000 at the ATG terminal in Ankara

Prior to the introduction of the high-speed line, the population centres of Istanbul (14 million) and Ankara (5 million) were connected by a 576 km (358 mi) long railway line, of which only 110 km (68 mi) was double-tracked.[14] The whole line was electrified, but low radius turns and poor track quality made high-speed rail transport impossible. Prior to the upgrading of this line in 2006, the railway's market share of Istanbul–Ankara passenger transit was 10%, with a travel time of ~6.5 hours.[14]

The high-speed railway connects the county's largest metropolises, Ankara the capital and conurbation of Istanbul via Eskişehir, with a junction at Polatlı to the Ankara-Konya high-speed line.[15]

The railway link was built by a Chinese-Turkish consortium, which was formed when the China Railway Construction Corporation and the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation won the bid in 2005 to build the railway line in partnership with two Turkish companies, Cengiz Construction and Ibrahim Cecen Ictas Construction.[16]

The line is 533 km (331 mi) long, double tracked, electrified, and signalled,[15] to ETCS level 1 standard[17][18] and is independent of the original Ankara to Istanbul line. The design speed is 250 km/h (155 mph).[15]

The first part of the line was to be constructed (Phase 1) was the Ankara–Eskişehir section, specifically between Sincan and İnönü, scheduled to open in 2006. The second phase was scheduled to open in 2008 and included more difficult terrain which covers the path between İnönü and Köseköy, extending to Gebze close to Istanbul.[17] The service in this line is expected to start on 25 July 2014.[19] A part of the route has not been completed yet by the time of opening, so conventional line will be used until the completion of the project.

The Ankara to Eskişehir section officially opened on 13 March 2009.[20] On 13 November 2009, a high-speed train derailed near Eskişehir.[21]

The line from Ankara to Eskişehir was initially operated by Turkish State Railways with the TCDD HT65000 six-car train sets constructed by the Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) of Spain. Additionally, TCDD bought seven Siemens Velaro sets for the Ankara–Istanbul line.[22] Moreover, in 2013 TCDD opened a new tender for 106 new sets to be supplied in 5 years,[23] but this tender was later cancelled, and a new tender opened in 2018.

Ankara–Istanbul high-speed line construction
Line section Length (km) Start / opening date[note 1] Notes
Ankara–Sincan 24 As of 2009, the existing track between Ankara and Esenkent is used until the completion of a dedicated high-speed line[20]

As of 2013, one track of high-speed line has been completed between Ankara and Sincan and it is being used with reduced signalling features

Sincan–Esenkent 15 2008–2010[15] This section has been opened in 2010 with full signalling features
Esenkent–Eskişehir 206 2004–2009[20] Infrastructure includes: 2 road bridges and 30 road underpasses, 7 railway bridges, and 13 river crossings. 4 viaducts (total length over 4 km (2.5 mi)), and 1 tunnel (471 m (1,545 ft)).
First test runs in April 2007.[15]
Eskişehir station 3.4 km 2008–[15] To avoid congestion problems in the city of Eskişehir, a tunnel and cutting project is being undertaken. 2,240 m (7,350 ft) of covered tunnel consisting of 2 high-speed lines, 2 conventional lines, and 1 freight line, plus 1,151 m (3,776 ft) of excavated track (U shape) with 2 high-speed tracks and 1 freight track.[15]

Eskisehir station infrastructure works have already started

Eskişehir–Inönü 30 Officially opened on 25 July 2014.[24]
Inönü–Vezirhan 54 Officially opened on 25 July 2014.[24]
Vezirhan–Köseköy 104 Officially opened on 25 July 2014.[24]
Köseköy–Pendik 56 Officially opened on 25 July 2014.[24]
Pendik–Söğütlüçeşme–Halkalı 43 Opened 12 March 2019 together with the Marmaray project.
Söğütlüçeşme–Haydarpaşa (Istanbul) 2 Pending completion of repairs.


Ankara–Konya

[edit]
A TCDD HT80000 at the ATG terminal in Ankara

The second high-speed line construction project in Turkey was a line from Polatlı on the Ankara to Istanbul line to Konya.[25]

Prior to the construction of the line, journeys between Ankara and Konya took over 10 hours, travelling from Ankara via Eskişehir and Afyon, with a total length of nearly 1,000 km (621 mi).[26][note 2] The new high-speed line is 306 km (190 mi) in length, with a journey time of 1 hour and 15 minutes.[26] 212 km (132 mi) of new track is constructed via Polatlı and Konya, with a design permitting up to 350 km/h (217 mph) of high-speed rail transport.[25] ETCS Level 2 will be used.[27]

Construction was split into two phases: Phase 1 was the 100 km (62 mi) section and Phase 2 was the 112 km (70 mi) section between Polatlı and Konya. The line includes a tunnel of 2,030m.[25] The first test train ran in December 2010;[28] Revenue services began on 24 August 2011.[29] Currently, same CAF trains which are used on Ankara–Eskisehir line are running on this line with 250 km/h maximum speed. In the future, TCDD will procure 6 more sets with up to 350 km/h. The journey time between the two cities (Ankara–Konya) is 1 and a half hours, dropping to 1 hour and 15 minutes in the future. Previously the journey time was 10 hours and 30 minutes. There are 10 trains a day, though this will rise to one per hour in the future.

Ankara–Konya high-speed line construction
Line section Length (km) Start/opening date[note 1] Notes
Ankara–Polatlı junction 98 km 2004–2009 Constructed as part of the Ankara to Istanbul high-speed line, on the Sincan – Eskişehir section
Phase 1
Polatlı via Kocahacılı to the 100 km mark		 100 km 2007–2011 An estimated cost increase of 20% due to weak ground[25]
Phase 2
from 100 km mark to Konya		 112 km 2006–2011

Konya-Karaman

[edit]

This 102 km high-speed line opened on 8 January 2022.[30] The Konya-Karaman high-speed line has been designed for a speed of 200 km/h.[31]

Ankara–Sivas

[edit]

More than half of the budgeted investment has been done by 2014, and was planned to open in late-2021.[32]

Prior to the construction of the high-speed line, the railway line length between Ankara and Sivas was 602 km (374 mi), primarily single-tracked, with a travel time of 12 hours. The travel time is cut to 2 hours and 51 minutes[25] The line is double-tracked and have a length of 465 km (289 mi) eastwards from Ankara to Sivas[25] via Kırıkkale, Yerköy and Yozgat[33] and constructed for the most part to the same 250 km/h (155 mph) operational design like other high speed lines except Konya-Karaman line. The infrastructure includes 6 viaducts (with a total length over 3 km (1.9 mi)), 11 tunnels (including one of ~3 km (1.9 mi) in length), and 67 bridges.[34] A 2019 update predicted service in 2022, 3 years behind schedule due to "geographic difficulties",[35] but the project returned to the prior opening date of 2020 summer.[36] In 2022, the Minister of Transport announced the opening of the line by the end of the year, as it is 99% complete in the spring.[37][38]

The route study was completed by the end of 2006, and put up for tender in two parts; separated at the 174 km (108 mi) mark from Ankara at Yerköy.[34]

The line was inaugurated on 26 April 2023.[39]

Ankara – Sivas high-speed line construction
Line section Length (km) Start / opening date Notes
Ankara–Kırıkkale 88 2013 – April 2023 Plans are revised due to that previous plans includes short sections of less than high-speed running due to small radius curve sections of track in the Ankara to Kırıkkale section.[34] Inaugurated on 26 April 2023.
Kırıkkale–Yerköy 86 2013 – April 2023 Tender is completed in 2012. Inaugurated on 26 April 2023.
Yerköy–Sivas 291 2009[40]–April 2023 7 tunnels over 10 km in total length and 4 viaducts over 2.7 km in total length.
Tender for construction of groundwork awarded in 2008. 7 stations to be built: 3 between Yerköy and Doğakent, and 4 between Doğakent and Sivas, to be separately tendered.[34] Inaugurated on April 26, 2023.

High-speed train sets

[edit]

TCDD HT65000

[edit]

TCDD HT65000 is a series of twelve high-speed electric multiple units built by the Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF) of Spain for the Turkish State Railways (TCDD), The EMUs are used on the Turkish high-speed railway network and can reach a maximum commercial speed of 250 km/h.[41][42]

TCDD HT70000

[edit]

The construction of Turkey's first domestic and national electric high-speed train set, National High-Speed Train Project, started on February 8, 2025, in order to reduce foreign dependency in railway transportation and increase domestic production. Produced by TÜRASAŞ, this train is designed to reach a speed of 225 kilometers per hour and consists of 8 wagons in total. The production process started at the TÜRASAŞ factory in Sakarya, and a total of 14 sets are planned to be produced between 2026 and 2028. The first train set produced was put on the rails with a ceremony held on March 6, 2026. It was announced by the Minister of Transport, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, that the train successfully reached a speed of 225 km/h in the dynamic brake tests carried out on the second day of the test drives.[43]

TCDD HT80000

[edit]
TCDD HT80000 (Siemens Velaro TR) has a maximum operating speed of 300 km/h (186 mph)[2][10]

The Velaro TR (TCDD HT80000) is a Velaro D derived 8-car standard gauge high-speed train for the Turkish State Railways (TCDD).[44] The eight cars, totalling a length of 200 m, can accommodate 519 passengers and reach a top speed of 300 km/h.[2][10] 25 kV 50 Hz AC power the train with a total of 8 MW.[44]

Turkish State Railways (TCDD) placed an order for seven Velaro high-speed trainsets in July 2013.[45] The contract is worth €285M, including seven years of maintenance.[45] The Velaros are to be deployed on the Turkish high-speed railway network. The first Siemens Velaro TR entered service in 2014.[46]

On 18 February 2015, TCDD ordered another 10 Velaro TR for delivery in 2017.[47] The €400M contract include the first three years of maintenance and spareparts.

Unlike the traditional white – red – dark blue color scheme used on the TCDD HT65000 high-speed trains, a white – turquoise – grey color scheme has been selected for the livery of TCDD's Velaro TR trains.[46]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. 1 2 Start of construction / Official opening
  2. ↑ There was no direct connection between Ankara and Konya by rail
[edit]

[48]

References

[edit]
  1. ↑ YHT Tanıtım Kitabi (YHT Reference Book), published by TCDD and Turkish Ministry of Transport.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Velaro Turkey: High-Speed Train for TCDD" (PDF). Siemens Mobility. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  3. ↑ Hızlı Tren Saatleri hareketsaati.com 30 November 2024 (in Turkish)
  4. ↑ Uysal, Onur. "First High Speed Train Set on Ankara Istanbul Line Arrived Istanbul", Rail Turkey, 26 July 2014
  5. ↑ Uysal, Onur. "New Schedule for Istanbul-Ankara High Speed Train", Rail Turkey, 9 August 2014
  6. ↑ "Turkish high-speed lines transported 100 million passengers". Railway PRO. 9 July 2025. Retrieved 26 June 2026.
  7. ↑ "ERTMS deployment in Turkey - Modernising signalling to optimise train operations" (PDF). www.ertms.net.
  8. ↑ "High-speed trains carry 110 million passengers in Türkiye - Türkiye News". Hürriyet Daily News. 16 March 2026. Retrieved 19 March 2026.
  9. ↑ "2053 - Ulaştırma ve Lojistik Ana Planı" [2053 - Transportation and Logistics Master Plan] (PDF). www.uab.gov.tr (in Turkish).
  10. 1 2 3 "Velaro Turkey High-Speed Train". Siemens Mobility. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Every one of four traveled fast". 14 August 2016.
  12. 1 2 "Passenger Transportation by rail on the rise". 27 January 2018.
  13. 1 2 "Turkish railways posts record figures for 2019". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
  14. 1 2 Evaluation of Ankara – Istanbul high speed train project[permanent dead link] Authors: Ali Payidar Akgungor, Abdulmuttalip Demirel, 2006, ISSN 1648-4142 print / ISSN 1648-3480 online, periodical: "TRANSPORT" 2007, Vol XXII, No 1, www.transport.vgtu.lt
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 The current situation in the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed line project Archived 28 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine www.tcdd.gov.tr "Ankara–Istanbul high-speed line project"
  16. ↑ Sweet, Rod (29 July 2014). "Turkey's new high-speed rail: victory for Erdogan – and China". Global Construction Review.
  17. 1 2 Ankara-Istanbul High-Speed Train Project, Turkey railway-technology.com
  18. ↑ Alcatel-Lucent partners with Thales to expand Turkish Railways’ high-speed signalling network 16 March 2009 www.alcatel-lucent.com
  19. ↑ Uysal, Onur. "Istanbul–Ankara High Speed Train to Start on 25th of July", Rail Turkey, 21 July 2014
  20. 1 2 3 UIC celebrates the introduction of high speed in Turkey Archived 20 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine 19 March 2009 uic.asso.fr
  21. ↑ Turkey high-speed train derails 13 November 2009 news.bbc.co.uk
  22. ↑ Uysal, Onur. "TCDD Prefers Velaro as HST Sets", Rail Turkey, 9 July 2013
  23. ↑ Uysal, Onur. "Turkey to Buy 106 New High Speed Trains", Rail Turkey, 28 July 2013
  24. 1 2 3 4 Ozen, Levent. "Sections of Ankara Istanbul HST Line" Archived 7 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine, RaillyNews, 25 July 2014
  25. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The current situation on the Ankara–Konya high-speed line Archived 10 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine www.tcdd.gov.tr
  26. 1 2 Railway projects in Turkey Archived 14 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine Author: Mustafa Karaşahin, Publication: "Mechanics Transport Communications", ISSN 1312-3823, issue 3, 2007 ww.mtc-aj.com
  27. ↑ "Railway Gazette: First ETCS Level 2 contract awarded in Turkey". Archived from the original on 16 February 2011. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  28. ↑ "Railway Gazette: Completion of Ankara – Konya high speed line is significant step". 24 December 2010. Archived from the original on 16 June 2011. Retrieved 24 December 2010.
  29. ↑ "Opening of Ankara – Konya fast line completes strategic link – Railway Gazette". Archived from the original on 26 November 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2011.
  30. ↑ "Turkey's High Speed Train Network Expands: Konya Karaman High Speed Line Opens Today". raillynews.com. Retrieved 8 January 2022.
  31. ↑ "Turkey: Konya-Karaman rapid railway line opens". UIC (International Union of Railways). Retrieved 23 February 2022.
  32. ↑ "Testing underway on Ankara – Sivas high speed line". Railway Gazette International. 9 March 2020. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
  33. ↑ Turkey's Railway Stations: A railway station that connects the Black Sea to the Mediterranean: Sivas Railway Station Archived 4 September 2011 at the Wayback Machine www.arkas.com.tr
  34. 1 2 3 4 ANKARA-SİVAS HIZLI TREN PROJESİ YERKÖY-YOZGAT-SİVAS KESİMİ Archived 6 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Ankara – Sivas railway project www.tcdd.gov.tr
  35. ↑ "Erdogan: "Ankara Sivas YHT Line Project of Yozgat at the Same Time"". 26 February 2019.
  36. ↑ "Ankara-Sivas high-speed train project has been completed". www.raillynews.com. 5 March 2020.
  37. ↑ "Ankara-Sivas YHT hattı yıl sonunda hizmete alınacak". www.trthaber.com (in Turkish). 14 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  38. ↑ "Bakan Karaismailoğlu: Ankara-İzmir arasındaki seyahat süresini 3,5 saate düşüreceğiz". www.trthaber.com (in Turkish). 22 March 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  39. ↑ "İlk sefer bugün... Ankara-Sivas Hızlı Treni hareket etti!". www.cumhuriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  40. ↑ SİVAS ANKARA ARASI 2 SAAT 50 DAKİKAYA İNECEK[permanent dead link] "2hr 50mins between Ankara and Sivas" 16 March 2009 sipastv.com
  41. ↑ "Technical specifications of TCDD HT65000". CAF. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  42. ↑ "Our High Speed Train set that departed from Spain entered into our country through Kapıkule on November 20, 2007". www.tcdd.gov.tr. Turkish State Railways. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2008.
  43. ↑ https://www.turasas.gov.tr/detay/hts-milli-hizli-tren-seti
  44. 1 2 "Velaro Turkey High-Speed Train" (PDF). Mobility.siemens.com. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2015.
  45. 1 2 "Turkey orders Siemens Velaro high speed trainsets". Railway Gazette International. 8 July 2013. Archived from the original on 17 January 2016. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  46. 1 2 "TCDD's first Siemens Velaro train set at the Ankara Central Station". Archived from the original on 13 October 2016. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  47. ↑ "TCDD orders 10 more Velaros". Railway Gazette International. 18 February 2015.
  48. ↑ "Demiryolu" Magazine March–April Issue
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