Ankara–Sivas high-speed railway

The Ankara–Sivas high-speed railway (Turkish: Ankara–Sivas yüksek hızlı demiryolu), is a 406 km (252 mi) long high-speed railway in Turkey and is the second longest high-speed railway in the country after the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway. Travel time between Ankara and Sivas was reduced to 2 hours and 50 minutes,[2] from around 9 hours and 30 minutes with conventional trains.[3][4] The railway will also serve as an extension of the Ankara-Istanbul HSR with a total journey time from Istanbul to Sivas at around 7 hours. The line was opened on April 26, 2023.[5]

Ankara–Sivas high-speed railway
A viaduct east of Kırıkkale.
Overview
StatusIn operation
OwnerTurkish State Railways
LocaleCentral Anatolia
Termini
Service
TypeHigh-speed rail
SystemTurkish State Railways
Operator(s)TCDD Taşımacılık
Depot(s)
History
OpenedTrial run as an evacuation service:
15 February 2023 (Sivas-Kırıkkale)
Scheduled operations:[1]
26 April 2023
Technical
Line length406 km (252.28 mi)
Number of tracksDouble track
CharacterTrunk
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Loading gaugeTCDD gross gauge
Minimum radius3,500 m
Electrification25 kV, 50 Hz AC overhead line
Operating speed250 km/h (160 mph)
Maximum incline18‰
Route map

(Click to expand)

History and the project
See also: Ankara-Kars railway

In order to reduce travel time between Ankara and Sivas, TCDD undertook a survey for a new high-speed railway line in 2004. Construction began in 2008 with some pauses in 2010 due to changes in the project. When completed, the Ankara-Sivas journey time is expected to be reduced to 2 hours and 50 minutes compared with a previous travel time of 12 hours. Testing on the line began in March 2020. The line partially opened in February 2023, and other portions started service in the April of the same year.

Stations

There are a total of 11 stations on the railway, five of which are in operation. With the exception of Ankara, Kayaş and Sivas stations, every station on the railway has been built exclusively for high-speed train use. When the railway first opened to revenue service, on 26 April 2023, only two new stations opened: Kırıkkale YHT and Yozgat YHT. The remaining stations (not counting the existing stations) will be opened within 2023.

Station listing
Province City Distance
from Ankara		 Station YHT services[6] Additional rail services/connections
Ankara Ankara 0 km (0 mi) Ankara YHT Ank-Siv TCDD Taşımacılık: Ankara Express, Başkentray, Eastern Express, İzmir Blue Train, Lake Van Express, Southern Kurtalan Express, 4 Sept. Blue Train
Ankara Metro: M1, Ankaray
12 km (7.5 mi) Kayaş Ank-Siv TCDD Taşımacılık: Başkentray, Eastern Express, Lake Van Express, Southern Kurtalan Express, 4 Sept. Blue Train
Elmadağ 35 km (22 mi) Elmadağ YHT
Kırıkkale Kırıkkale 76 km (47 mi) Kırıkkale YHT Ank-Siv
Yozgat Yerköy 169 km (105 mi) Yerköy YHT
Yozgat 204 km (127 mi) Yozgat YHT Ank-Siv
Sorgun 234 km (145 mi) Sorgun YHT
Akdağmadeni 298 km (185 mi) Akdağmadeni YHT
Sivas Yıldızeli 360 km (220 mi) Yıldızeli YHT
Sivas 406 km (252 mi) Sivas Ank-Siv TCDD Taşımacılık: Eastern Express, Lake Van Express, Southern Kurtalan Express, 4 Sept. Blue Train
407 km (253 mi) Sivas YHT

Sections and speeds

Constructions are divided into four sections:

Section Length Max Speed Notes
Ankara Central - Kayaş 12 km 140 km/h
Kayaş - Kırıkkale 62 km 250 km/h Opened in April 2023
Kırıkkale - Yerköy 79 km Opened in February 2023, initially as an evacuation service for the victims of 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake
Yerköy - Sivas 253 km Opened in February 2023, initially as an evacuation service for the victims of 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake
Sivas Yapı connection 460 m 180 km/h Short link track connecting to the classic train route approaching the city from the west

See also

References
  1. "Demiryolu yatırımları ne durumda? Bakan Adil Karaismailoğlu anlattı". youtube.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  2. Adnan Ekinci. Hızlı Tren Hakkında Herşey (Report). TCDD Genel Müdürlüğü. p. 40.
  3. "Güney Kurtalan Ekspresi". tcddseferleri.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  4. "Doğu Ekspresi". tcddseferleri.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 8 April 2018.
  5. "İlk sefer bugün... Ankara-Sivas Hızlı Treni hareket etti!". www.cumhuriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 2023-04-26.
  6. "Yüksek Hızlı Tren Schedules". tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 14 September 2022.

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