Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that Türkiye’s rail systems carried nearly 2.9 million passengers. Between March 29 and April 1, citizens flocked to trains nationwide. This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that Türkiye’s rail systems carried nearly 2.9 million passengers.
A high-speed train offers fast travel across major routes, Istanbul, Türkiye, Sept. 17, 2023

Uraloğlu released a detailed statement highlighting the Ramadan Bayram travel surge on rail networks. He explained that authorities boosted capacity by 12,786 seats across high-speed, mainline, and regional trains.

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During the three-day holiday, several urban rail lines offered free rides to ease travel burdens. These included Başkentray, Marmaray, Izban, Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme, and Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Arnavutköy routes, Uraloğlu confirmed.

On the busy Ankara-Istanbul corridor, officials added six extra high-speed train services for travelers. Consequently, these trains provided 2,466 additional seats and carried 138,978 passengers over the holiday.

Authorities also enhanced express and regional train services by attaching 172 extra carriages. This expansion increased seating by 10,320 and enabled 137,124 passengers to travel comfortably.

Altogether, high-speed, mainline, and regional trains transported 276,102 passengers during Ramadan Bayram. Uraloğlu emphasized that these figures reflect strong demand for reliable rail travel options.

Türkiye’s Rail Systems Shine in Istanbul

In Istanbul, TCDD-operated networks like Marmaray saw significant usage over the holiday weekend. The minister reported that Marmaray alone moved 2,156,902 passengers between Gebze and Halkalı stations.

Other Istanbul lines also contributed to the holiday travel surge, according to Uraloğlu’s data. For instance, the Halkalı-Bahçeşehir route served 284 passengers, while Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme carried 34,310 commuters.

The Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Arnavutköy metro line also proved popular among holiday travelers. Uraloğlu noted that this route transported 117,565 passengers during the three-day festive period.

Meanwhile, Ankara’s Başkentray line, which connects with high-speed trains, experienced steady growth. The Sincan-Kayaş route successfully served 291,312 passengers, reinforcing its importance to commuters.

Overall, urban rail networks across Türkiye handled 2,600,373 passengers from March 29 to April 1. Uraloğlu praised the efficiency of these services in meeting public travel needs.

Türkiye’s Rail Systems Prepare for Future Growth

The minister underscored the government’s commitment to improving rail infrastructure for future holidays. He added that such efforts ensure smoother journeys and greater accessibility for all citizens.

Travelers clearly favored rail transport during Ramadan Bayram, reflecting its reliability and convenience. Uraloğlu’s report showcases how Türkiye’s train networks rose to the occasion effectively.

With nearly 2.9 million passengers recorded, the holiday period marked a busy time for TCDD. These numbers highlight the growing role of rail travel in Türkiye’s transportation landscape.

Officials anticipate even higher demand in upcoming holidays and plan further enhancements accordingly. For now, the Ramadan Bayram success signals a positive trend for rail usage nationwide.

Source: www.dailysabah.com

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