Konya–Yenice railway

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Konya–Yenice
Pozanti gar 3.jpg
A freight train passing through Pozantı.
Overview
OwnerTurkish State Railways
LocaleKonya Plain
Taurus Mountains
Çukurova
TerminiKonya
Yenice
Service
TypeHeavy rail, Higher-speed rail
SystemTurkish State Railways
Operator(s)TCDD Taşımacılık
Körfez Ulaştırma
Omsan
History
Opened25 October 1904[1] (first section)
9 October 1918[1] (final section)
Technical
Line length344.7 km (214.2 mi)
Number of tracks2 (Konya-Karaman)
1 (Karaman-Yenice)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV, 50 Hz AC overhead line
Operating speed200 km (120 mi) (Konya-Karaman)
Route map

Legend
Polatlı-Konya HSR to Ankara
to Afyon & Eskişehir
0 km
0 mi
 Konya
20.3 km
12.6 mi
 Kaşınhanı
44.2 km
27.5 mi
 Çumra
Çumra Sugar Factory
61.9 km
38.5 mi
 Arıkören
Konya Province
Karaman Province
102.2 km
63.5 mi
 Karaman
Layover yard
End of electrification
Sudurağı
Ayrancı
Böğecik bypass
Karaman Province
Konya Province
Ereğli
Çakmak
Konya Province
Niğde Province
Tepeköy bypass
to Kayseri
Start of electrification
Ulukışla
Gümüş
Toroslar-1
D.750
Toroslar-2
Toroslar-3
Toroslar-4
Toroslar-5
Toroslar-6
Toroslar-7
��iftehan
Toroslar-8
Toroslar-9
Toroslar-10
Toroslar-11
Toroslar-12
Toroslar-13
Toroslar-14
Toroslar-15
Pozantı
Toroslar-16
Toroslar-17
Toroslar-18
Toroslar-19
Belemedik
Toroslar-20
Toroslar-21
Toroslar-22
Toroslar-23
Toroslar-24
Toroslar-25
Toroslar-26
Toroslar-27
Toroslar-28
Toroslar-29
Toroslar-30
Toroslar-31
Hacıkırı
Toroslar-32
Karaisali Bucağı
Toroslar-33
Toroslar-34
Toroslar-36
Toroslar-37
Kelebek
Durak
Adana-Mersin railway
to Mersin
Yenice
Adana-Mersin railway
to Adana

The Konya–Yenice railway (Turkish: Konya-Yenice demiryolu) is a 344.7 km (214.2 mi) long, partially electrified railway in southern Turkey. The railway is a major route connecting Turkey's Mediterranean coast to the Anatolian interior as well as the only railway line through the Taurus Mountains. The line begins in Konya and runs southeast through Karaman until turning south at Ulukışla and joining the Adana–Mersin railway at Yenice. The section between Konya and Karaman is classified as a High-standard railway (Turkish: Yüksek standartlı demiryolu), while the rest of the route is classified as a Conventional railway (Turkish: Konvansiyonel demiryolu).

The Konya–Yenice railway was built by the Baghdad Railway mainly between 1904 and 1912, with the final 36 km (22 mi) gap completed in 1918.[1] It served an important role during World War I in transporting troops and materiel to the fronts in Mesopotamia and Palestine. Numerous engineering works were undertaken to build through the steep Taurus Mountains, the most famous of them being the Varda Viaduct.

The first section of the route, between Konya and Karaman, is an electrified, double track, higher-speed railway which hosts YHT high-speed train service. This 106 km (66 mi) long section of the railway allows for speeds up to 200 km/h (120 mph), making it the fastest conventional railway in Turkey, excluding dedicated high-speed rail lines.[2] Plans to upgrade the entire railway are underway with the second section between Karaman and Ulukışla under construction. These upgrades will include electrification, ECTS signalling, adding a second track and upgrading the right-of-way to allow for speeds up to 200 km/h (120 mph). Plans for the third section of the project, between Ulukışla and Yenice, have been finalized and the tender has been awarded in August 2021.[3]

Operations[]

The Konya–Yenice railway hosts both passenger and freight rail, from three different operators. TCDD Taşımacılık (TCDDT) operates high-speed passenger service on the line mostly between Konya and Karaman. However a daily intercity train from Kayseri to Adana uses the line to traverse the Taurus Mountains. A daily intercity train between Konya and Adana also used the line, until 12 March 2020, when service was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The route is primarily for freight rail as the bulk of trains TCDDT runs on it are freight trains. Two private operators also run freight trains on the railway. Körfez Ulaştırma (KUAŞ) operates freight trains carrying liquid fuel from Kırıkkale to Mersin, while Omsan operates freight trains carrying bulk from Aliağa and Payas to Kayseri.[4][5]

Train type Route Frequency Operator
High-speed Konya – Karaman 3x Daily[6] TCDD Taşımacılık
Kayseri – Niğde – Ulukışla – Pozantı – Yenice – Adana Daily[7] TCDD Taşımacılık

References[]

  1. ^ a b c "Baghdad Railway". trainsofturkey.com. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  2. ^ "Konya-Karaman Hızlı Tren Demiryolu". gulermak.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  3. ^ "Aksaray-Ulukışla-Yenice Yüksek Standartlı Demiryolu Hattı'nın ihalesi yapıldı!". emlakkulisi.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  4. ^ "Demiryolu ile Tehlikeli Madde Taşımacılığı". korfezulastirma.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  5. ^ "Demiryolu Taşımacılığı". omsan.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  6. ^ "Bölgesel Trenler". tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 September 2021.
  7. ^ "Anahat Trenler". tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 September 2021.
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