Vice President Yılmaz: “We have taken significant steps to develop our railway network.”

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz stated that railways have been brought back to the country’s agenda during the AK Party and the People’s Alliance period, saying, “We have taken significant steps to develop our railway network.”

Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz made statements at the opening ceremony of the Aykal Railway Vehicles Manufacturing-Maintenance-Repair Factory in Kılıçlar village of Yahşihan district in Kırıkkale. In his speech at the ceremony, Yılmaz emphasized that the steps taken by Turkey in the railway sector have led to a significant transformation in the country’s transportation infrastructure. Noting that railways have been brought back to the country’s agenda during the AK Party and the People’s Alliance period, Yılmaz said, “In the early years of the Republic, a serious move was made in railways. However, there was not much development in this area for many years. In recent years, we have taken important steps to develop our railway network. Railways will be one of our top priorities in the upcoming period.”

Yılmaz expressed that they aim to increase the competitiveness of the industry and production by establishing connection lines between production facilities and markets, stating that they are approaching this issue with sensitivity and that work in this direction continues.

“It will bring foreign currency to the country”

Explaining that Aykal Group is one of the leading companies in Turkey’s railway transportation, Yılmaz said, “With a capacity to maintain at least 10 locomotives and 50 wagons monthly, it reduces dependence on imports. Locomotives and wagons from other countries will also come here and be serviced by company personnel. Therefore, it will bring foreign currency to the country. This is one of the most important issues, indeed. In this regard, I want to express that it will make very serious contributions. The locomotives and wagons produced here can be used in national networks, production facilities, and railway vehicles requiring high power, thus providing energy savings. This success is not only that of Aykal Group but a shared pride for all of us.”

“We are working with all our might to increase domestic and national production”

Stating that significant steps have been taken to increase domestic and national production in the railway sector in recent years, and that Turkey has established wagon manufacturing facilities that meet international standards in this field, Vice President Yılmaz noted:
“Railway transportation emerges as a strategic area in both passenger and freight transportation. We are working with all our might to increase domestic and national production in this sector. Especially in wagon production, we have established facilities capable of producing at international standards, and we are expanding this capacity every day. Our institutions, such as TÜVASAŞ, play a pioneering role in the production of domestic and national train sets. Our domestic production initiatives in the railway sector create significant opportunities not only for technological development but also for employment. Such investments directly contribute to our economy by providing job opportunities for citizens.”

Yılmaz expressed that the newly opened factory would increase Turkey’s domestic production capacity in the railway sector and added that this would also provide energy savings in national networks and railway vehicles requiring high power.