The China Railway Construction Corporation and the China National Machinery Import and Export Corporation, in partnership with two Turkish companies, have won the bid to build part of Turkey’s first highspeed railway linking the Turkish capital Ankara with the country’s largest city Istanbul.
Nearly 1,500 kilometers of network track has been laid with more than 2,300 kilometers under construction. Since the first line between Ankara and Eskisehir began operation in 2009, more than 31 million people have traveled by Turkey’s fast trains; and 33 percent of the country's population is connected by highspeed trains.
"Starting from Eskisehir and up to Izmit, Chinese and Turkish firms were working together. The Chinese brought experience and a 1.7-billion-dollar Chinese-Turkish business partnership. Today, Turkey is currently effectively operating highspeed train lines of about 1,450 kilometers, while construction continues on 3,800 kilometers of highspeed rail line,” said Ahmet Arslan, the Turkish Minister of Transportation.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives the first signal for the train's departure at the opening ceremony of the highspeed train station in Ankara, Turkey on October 29, 2016./VCG Photo
Nearly 26 million tons of goods were transported via the fast train lines in 2016. This efficient movement of trade is what’s driving Chinese investment in highspeed railway networks all along the ancient Silk Road.
“For traders, they are able to go to their trading place faster and the economy of the country is coming to life. It is to bring all corners of the country together, and bring them into one of the international corridors of transportation,” said Ahmet Arslan.
The middle corridor line through Turkey is expected to be completed in 2018, making the transportation of Chinese goods to Europe four times faster. China’s export of fast train technology was the catalyst for Turkey’s burgeoning fast train market – development that will not only serve Turkey, but the world.
