Rail Exports Rose 33% During the Pandemic Period

Ares Logistics Chief Executive Officer Engin Kırcı stated that railway exports increased by 33 percent during the pandemic period, reaching record levels. Pointing out that this increase reached 43 percent in March and April when quarantine measures intensified, Kırcı said, "Due to strict inspections on road routes and border gates and other measures, intermodal transport by rail and Ro-Ro came to the fore." Railway exports increased by 33 percent due to pandemic measures, reaching record levels. Ares Logistics Chief Executive Officer Engin Kırcı noted that exporters turned to alternative transportation solutions due to pandemic measures and congestion. Explaining that eco-friendly and low-cost intermodal transport, combining different transportation models, gained more attention during this period, Kırcı shared the "exports by mode of transport" data from TURKSTAT. Kırcı emphasized that, particularly in March and April when quarantine measures intensified, the share of railway transportation in exports doubled compared to the same period in 2019.

Record for railway exports since the founding of the Republic

Recalling that border crossings faced serious problems in March and April, Kırcı stated that railway exports increased by 43 percent on a value basis during the relevant period. Kırcı noted that exporters' preference for railway continued after May. Recalling that total exports declined by 6 percent compared to 2019 due to pandemic effects last year, Kırcı said, "Railway exports reached USD 1 billion 288 million with a 33 percent increase. Thus a record was set in railway freight transportation for exports. Although due to the pandemic, the importance of railways in freight transport was demonstrated once again."  

International railway investments increased

Kırcı drew attention to the fact that Turkey has focused on internationally connected railway investments in recent years. Mentioning that the Halkalı-Kapıkule High-Speed Train Project would reduce freight transport time on this route by 4 hours 10 minutes, Kırcı recalled that the freight train service to China was launched and the Istanbul-Teheran-Islamabad freight train would be reopened.  

"International transport by rail will increase further"

Kırcı shared information that 2 million 600 thousand tons of international freight transport by rail to Europe, Asia and Iran was carried out during January-September 2020. Emphasizing that this figure represents 655 thousand tons and 35 percent increase compared to the same period in 2019, Kırcı added that railways would be used more in Turkey's international freight transport in the period ahead.