“Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project of Köseköy-Gebze Section of the Ankara-Istanbul High Speed Railway Line”, implemented in the framework of the TOP, has made an important contribution to the high-speed train that “connects” Ankara and Istanbul.
Turkey became acquainted with the high-speed train in 2007... The train journey, which was planned to go as far as Istanbul, first started between Ankara and Eskişehir. The journey was only 90 minutes on this line, which has a total length of 245 kilometres. The public has shown great interest in the line. Now it was time to extend the line to Istanbul. When construction started on this phase, the European Union wanted to make a contribution to the construction of the line through IPA I financial funds. Thus, the “Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project of the Köseköy-Gebze Section of the Ankara-Istanbul High Speed Railway Line” emerged. The project, constructed by the Salini, Kolin and G.C.F. Joint Venture, was launched during 2011.
During the design of the major project on the Ankara-Istanbul High Speed Railway Line, the benefits expected from the project and its objectives were enumerated as follows:
Shortening the travel time between Ankara and Istanbul,
Ensuring a comfortable and safe transport system,
Increasing the share of railways in the national transportation network,
Decreasing the traffic load of the highway between Ankara and Eskişehir, in order to minimize the environmental pollution created by vehicle exhaust emissions.
High standards on the line
The “Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Project of the Köseköy-Gebze Section of the Ankara-Istanbul High Speed Railway Line” mainly involved “the removal of the existing double railway track, the construction of the new double line railway, as well as the construction of its signalization, electrification and telecommunication systems”.
The integration of the line, together with adjacent railway lines, as well as adjacent signalization, electrification and telecommunication systems, and the implementation of geotechnical work prior to the construction of the line, have been realised in this context.
The line became operative in July 2014 and the Ankara-Istanbul High Speed Train continues to run to the great satisfaction of the passengers.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project Name: Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Köseköy-Gebze Section of Ankara-Istanbul High Speed Railway Line
Financial Contribution of the EU: 171 Million Euros (85%)
Total Project Amount: 201 Million Euros
Beneficiary Institution: General Directorate of Turkish State Railways
WORKS CONTRACT
Contractor Company: Salini Costruttori S.p.A. - Kolin İnşaat Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. - G.C.F. Generale Costruzioni Ferroviarie S.p.A.
Date of the Contract: 14.10.2011
Starting Date of Work: 25.11.2011
Temporary Admission Date According to the Contract: 30.11.2016
CONSULTING SERVICES CONTRACT:
Contractor Company: ILF Mühendislik ve Teknik Dan. Taah. Ve Ticaret Ltd. Şti., ILF Beratendelngenieure ZT GmbH, Obermeyer Planen Beraten GmbH, Optim Obermeyer Proje Tek. Bilgi İşlem Merk. A.Ş. and Neti Dan. İnşaat Ltd. Şti. Consortium
Date of the Contract: 31.10.2011
Starting Date of Work: 14.11.2011
Termination Date of the Contract: 30 November 2018
LINE INFORMATION (Köseköy-Gebze)
Operational Objective of the Line: Mass Passenger Transportation
Line Length: 56 Kilometres
Line Characteristics: Double Electrified Line, Tagged
Number of Stations: 19
Line Capacity: 60 Trains per Day
Operational Train Speed: 250 kilometres / Hour (Köseköy – Gebze maximum design speed 160 Kilometres / Hour)