Ankara rail corridor connecting east and west of Turkey is opened for freight officially.

Ankara pass had been closed first due to Baskentray and then Sivas HST line projects. Though some trains like China trains were accepted in the past, the line now has been officially opened for all freight trains. With opening, east and west of Turkey have now two rail corridors, one in south via Konya, other is in north via Ankara.

Ankara pass is the shortest path between Marmara region and Kirikkale-Sivas-Erzurum-Kars railway. As Ankara pass opened, transit time and cost of Azerbaijan/Kazakhstan/China trains departing from Izmit using Baku-Tblisi-Kars railway, fuel trains of Korfez Ulastirma running between Izmit and Kirikkale, export trains from Sivas and Karabuk will decrease.

Below DIUM (uniform distance table for international freight traffic), showing rail distances from Turkish freight terminals to borders (Kapikule for Bulgaria, Kapikoy for Iran, Canbaz for Georgia, Uzunkopru for Greece) became effective starting from 7th of May, 2021.

Cover photo: Ministry of Transport ©