Turkish rail gets new multibillion funding in 2025, on par with the road

The Turkish rail sector can count on a funding of 305 billion Turkish lira (8,2 billion euros) in 2025, which is significantly higher than in 2024. It is also nearly on par with the road, which will get 329 billion (8,9 billion euros) in funding. However, the budget boost may skew perceptions amid mounting inflation.

The Turkish road budget is still slightly ahead for 2025, but rail can count on a bigger increase when compared to 2024. The latter’s budget will grow by 41,8 per cent, whereas the road budget is getting a 30,2 per cent boost. These numbers seem huge, but the rampant Turkish inflation of nearly 50 per cent cancels out the nominal budget growth. In real terms, next year’s budget will likely be smaller than the budget of the current year.

Boost for CT

Combined transport, logistics and dangerous goods are getting 4,4 billion lira (around 120 million euros) in 2025, up from 1,3 billion (35 million euros) last year, which is the only category getting a significant budget boost when corrected for inflation.

Türkiye is becoming an increasingly important transit country, especially in light of the development of the Middle Corridor. It is liberalising its rail freight sector in hopes of attracting investment to boost its infrastructure. By 2053, it wants to expand rail infrastructure to a total length of 28,590 kilometres from the current 13,919 kilometres, according to the Turkish transport minister.

European Silk Road Summit 2024

Asia – Europe rail freight is one of the key topics to be discussed at the European Silk Road Summit 2024, taking place in Vienna on 27-28 November.

Registrations for the yearly event are already open, while the programme, which this year highlights the fast-recovering China-Europe rail market, is shaping up.