Uraloğlu visited the Düver Construction Site in Kayseri's Kocasinan district to inspect the Ankara–Yerköy–Kayseri High-Speed Rail Project and received a briefing on the project.
Speaking after the briefing, Uraloğlu said that railways had been treated as a state policy since 2002. He noted that during this period, new lines had been built while the existing railway network had also been renewed and modernized.
Work on the line
Uraloğlu said construction was also continuing on the Halkalı–Kapıkule, Ankara–İzmir, Bandırma–Bursa–Yenişehir–Osmaneli, Mersin–Adana–Osmaniye–Gaziantep and Delice–Çorum lines, in addition to the Yerköy–Kayseri line. He said the number of provinces directly connected by high-speed rail was targeted to increase from 11 to 27 by 2028.
The 142-kilometer Yerköy–Kayseri High-Speed Rail Line is being built as a double-track, electrified and signaled line designed for speeds of 250 kilometers per hour. The line will have five stations: Yerköy, Şefaatli, Yenifakılı, Himmetdede and Kayseri.
The project includes 22 tunnels with a total length of 20.5 kilometers and 27 railway bridges with a total length of 6,608 meters. Once completed, the line will be integrated with the Ankara–Sivas High-Speed Rail Line.
Ankara–Kayseri journey to fall to 1 hour 45 minutes
Uraloğlu said that once the line begins operations, the Ankara–Kayseri travel time, currently seven hours on the conventional railway, would fall to 1 hour 45 minutes. The journey to Istanbul is also targeted to take five hours.
Uraloğlu said physical progress across the project had reached approximately 53%, adding that more than half of the work had been completed. The section extending to Kayseri is targeted for completion in the second half of 2028, while the section reaching Himmetdede is expected to be completed within 2027.
Uraloğlu said work on the tunnels and bridges could lead to some changes in the schedule, adding that efforts were continuing to complete the project within the targeted period.
Capacity for 5.5 million passengers and 3 million tons of freight annually
Once the line is completed, it is expected to have an annual capacity of 5.5 million passengers and 3 million tons of freight. Uraloğlu said the railway connection would help Kayseri's products reach ports, organized industrial zones and neighboring provinces more quickly and at lower cost.
Uraloğlu said the project would also support access to Erciyes' ski tourism, the works of Mimar Sinan and Kayseri's natural attractions, describing the line as part of the region's transportation and development goals.
