ANKARA - "Turkey enters high-speed train era. High-speed train tests will start next year between Ankara and Eskisehir," said Turkish Minister of Transportation Binali Yildirim on Wednesday.
Taking the floor in the International Railway Symposium held at Bilkent Hotel by Turkish Railways DG, Yildirim said that Turkey has 11,000 kilometers of railways at the moment. Stating that railway transportation was neglected since 1950s, Yildirim underscored that their government prepared a Transportation Master Plan when they came to power.
Yildirim noted that they implemented the Marmaray Project (a project to connect Istanbul`s Asian and European sides under the Bosphorus through a tunnel) within the framework of this master plan.
"The Marmaray Project has a budget of more than 3 million USD and it will be completed in 2010. It is a wonder of engineering. Despite eatrhquake risks, a tunnel will be constructed under the Bosphorus in 60 meters depth" he said.
Speaking about high-speed train project, Yildirim indicated that construction works are underway between Ankara and Istanbul.
"6 billion USD was allocated in last three years for the improvement of railways. This amount is equal to the total amount spent in last 50 years," he added.
Noting that European countries are 9-10 years ahead of Turkey, Yildirim said that Turkey could easily catch up with these countries.