High-speed train makes debut trip

The Turkish State Railways Authority, or TCDD, has completed the first leg of its high-speed train project, reducing travel time between the capital Ankara and Eskişehir to one and a half hours from three.

The train’s speed can reach 250 kilometers per hour and has been on TCDD’s agenda for almost 10 years. Construction has been underway for the last five years. After TCDD’s staff, the first train passengers were journalists Tuesday. The high-speed train will open for public use after Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan officially inaugurates the shuttle by riding it March 13. Turkish people will become familiar with traveling by train based on European standards, but problems with level crossings need to be addressed urgently.

Building the new 760 million-euro high-speed train has been on Turkey’s agenda since 2004 when a high-speed train derailed and killed 36 people.

On Friday, the train shuttle between Ankara and Eskişehir will officially start. As journalists were enjoying the train voyage for the first time, most were comfortable and felt the train’s speed increase was similar to watching a baseball player’s rising hits on a scoreboard. As the train was leaving the station at 11 a.m., the journey was no different than traveling on the Blue Train or the Republic Train. The high-speed train’s infrastructure has not been finalized, so the train is using the existing Ankara-Sincan and Sincan-Esenkent railway track. Therefore, the speed does not exceed 120 kilometers in the first half hour, but after 35 minutes, the train proceeds along the high-speed line.

During the high-speed train’s testing, the train’s speed maxed out at 255 kilometers per hour. TCDD president Süleyman Karaman informed journalists about the train’s speed control system. "The speed is prelimited and in the case that limit is exceeded by 5 kilometers per hour, the system sends a warning and activates the automatic breaks," he said.

The train has a business class compartment that is as comfortable as a plane’s business class cabin. Besides business class and first class compartments, the train’s other compartments are also of high quality. A tea service was the test of whether the train shakes passengers. The train passed the test when tea did not spill, even at maximum speed. However, walking in the train while it is moving is really difficult. The use of a conventional railway line is currently compulsory but when the high-speed rail lines are completed, Ankara to Eskişehir travel time will decrease to one hour and five minutes. Level crossings still pose a great danger.