Turkey's Transport Minister Uraloğlu sets goal of 28,500 km high‑speed rail network by 2053 FAST-MOVING

Abdulkadir Uraloğlu high‑speed rail Turkey rail network 2053 target Pamukova station

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu inaugurated the Pamukova high‑speed rail station and the Alifuatpaşa junction in Sakarya, noting the station has served over 41,000 passengers and the junction handles about 900 trucks daily. He said the YHT system has carried roughly 114 million passengers since its launch in 2009.

Uraloğlu outlined a long‑term expansion plan: about 5,000 km of new railway lines are under construction, with 3,000 km slated for completion by 2028, which will raise the number of provinces directly served by high‑speed trains from 11 to 27. The ultimate target for 2053 is a 28,500‑km rail network that would allow a coast‑to‑coast trip across Turkey in 48 hours. Specific projects mentioned include the T26 tunnel and Doğançay Ripajı‑2 works that will cut Ankara‑Istanbul travel time by 30 minutes, and the Bandırma‑Bursa‑Yenişehir‑Osmaneli line that will connect Bursa to the high‑speed network.

Entities: Abdulkadir Uraloğlu · Alifuatpaşa Junction · Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (Turkey) · Pamukova High‑Speed Train Station · Turkey

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 6 SOURCES] The number of provinces directly served by high‑speed rail will increase from 11 to 27 by 2028. (Uraloğlu announced the goal of expanding direct high‑speed rail connections to 27 provinces.)
[● 3 SOURCES] Pamukova high‑speed rail station has served over 41,000 passengers since opening. (Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the station has served more than 41,000 passengers.)
[● 7 SOURCES] Turkey aims for a 28,500 km rail network by 2053, enabling a 48‑hour circumnavigation. (Uraloğlu said the 2053 vision includes a 28,500 km network that would allow travel around the country in 48 hours.)
[● 4 SOURCES] Alifuatpaşa junction is used by about 900 trucks each day. (Uraloğlu noted the junction handles roughly 900 trucks daily.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] Completion of the T26 tunnel and Doğançay Ripajı‑2 projects will reduce Ankara‑Istanbul travel time by 30 minutes. (Uraloğlu indicated the two projects will shave 30 minutes off the Ankara‑Istanbul high‑speed route.)
[● 7 SOURCES] About 5,000 km of railway lines are under construction, with 3,000 km expected to be completed by 2028. (Uraloğlu said construction continues on roughly 5,000 km of lines and 3,000 km will be finished by 2028.)
[○ 1 SOURCE] The Bandırma‑Bursa‑Yenişehir‑Osmaneli high‑speed rail line is under construction and will link Bursa to the network. (Uraloğlu mentioned the ongoing Bandırma‑Bursa project as part of the national rail expansion.)
[● 4 SOURCES] Around 114 million passengers have travelled on Turkey's high‑speed rail network since 2009. (Uraloğlu cited a cumulative total of about 114 million YHT passengers.)