A high speed train built by CAF on the Istanbul-Ankara railway Picture: XINHUA/LIU YU


Turkey’s high speed rail line between Istanbul and Ankara opened last week (25 July 2014) following the inauguration of the section from Eskişehir to Istanbul.

Six trains a day operate the 350 mile long Chinese-built line from Ankara to Penik on the eastern side of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, using Spanish built 150 mph CAF trains, with a journey time of 3.5 hours.

A three-hour journey time will be possible once the service is able to operate under the Bosphorus completed into central Istanbul.

The Turkish government hopes to create a a network of high speed rail.

A high-speed line between Ankara and Konya, is expected to open next year, and rapid rail between Ankara and Sivas, is planned.

Turkish State Railways also have plans to connect Istanbul, İzmir, Bursa, Balıkesir, Adapazarı and Kocaeli with high speed trains.