| Yüksek Hızlı Tren High Speed Train |
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The YHT ready to depart Ankara station |
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| Overview | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service type | High speed rail | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Status | Operating | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Locale | Northwest, Central Anatolia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First service | March 13, 2009 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current operator(s) | Turkish State Railways | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average ridership | 1,889,666 (2010) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Route | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Start | Central Station, Ankara | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| No. of intermediate stops | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| End | Central Station, Eskişehir or Central Station, Konya | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Distance travelled | 245 km (152 mi) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Average journey time | 1 hour, 5 minutes[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Service frequency | 10 daily (Ankara-Eskişhir) 4 daily (Ankara-Konya) |
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| On-board services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Class(es) | Business and first class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disabled access | Fully accessible | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Seating arrangements | Airline-style coach seating | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Catering facilities | On-board café, and at-seat meals in first class | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Entertainment facilities | On-board television with feature films. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Baggage facilities | Checked baggage available at selected stations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Technical | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rolling stock | HT65000 EMUs | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrification | 25 kV 50 Hz AC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operating speed | 250 km/h (160 mph) maximum | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Track owner(s) | TCDD | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Yüksek Hızlı Tren or YHT (English: high-speed train) is the Turkish State Railways high-speed rail service currently operating on two routes; Ankara to Eskişehir with construction under way to İstanbul and Ankara to Konya, which opened in August 2011. The YHT uses the HT65000 EMU sets with tilting technology built by CAF. The YHT is the only high-speed service in Turkey and in the Middle East operating at speeds up to 250 km/h (160 mph).[2] The YHT operates on the Istanbul-Ankara High Speed Rail Line (only Eskişeir-Ankara part is in operation) and, recently, the Ankara-Konya High Speed Rail Line via Polatlı. Before the YHT came into operation, average journey time between İstanbul and Ankara was 7 hours and 30 minutes. By transferring from the YHT to regional trains at Eskişehir, average journey time between İstanbul and Ankara has fallen to 5 hours and 30 minutes.[3] When the high-speed line is completed to İstanbul, the average journey time is expected to be lowered to 3 hours.[1] The YHT is the Turkish State Railway's premier route, with 11 trains daily in both directions, although it is only the fourth-busiest route in Turkey. The Yüksek Hızlı Tren is the 8th high-speed rail service in world and the sixth in Europe.[1]
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İstanbul and Ankara are Turkey's largest two cities, having a combined population of 16,546,551. Transportation between the two cities is high. The Otoyol 4 motorway is a major highway between the two cities and the Ankara–İstanbul route is the busiest route for the Turkish Airlines. The route between İstanbul and Ankara by rail was a single-track line and trains usually were delayed 30 minutes to 2 hours plus the average 7 hours, 30 minutes travel time. Rail transport in Turkey was already at its lowest point, so in 2003 the State Railways and the Turkish Ministry of Transport made an agreement to build a 533 km (331 mi) line between the two cities. The line would be an electrified double trackline.[2] Construction began in 2004 from Esenkent to Eskişehir. The line was completed on April 23, 2007.[4]
On February 28, 2007 TCDD requested bids for high speed train sets from other networks to be tested on the completed portion of the high speed line. On March 30, 2007 TCDD signed an agreement with Ferrovie dello Stato to rent an ETR 500 train set for 4 months.[4] The first run was from Haydarpaşa Terminal in İstanbul to Ankara, using the completed portion of the high speed line between Hasanbey and Esenkent. The ETR 500 Y2 set a speed record in Turkey reaching 303 km/h (188 mph). This test got tremendous media coverage in Turkey.
TCDD requested bids for the name of the high-speed service. Out of over 100 entries, the ones with the highest votes were: Türk Yıldızı (Turkish Star), Turkuaz (Turquoise), Yüksek Hızlı Tren (High Speed Train), Çelik Kanat (Steel Wing) and Yıldırım (Lightning). TCDD chose Yüksek Hızlı Tren to be the name of the service.[5]
In 2010 one of the YHT trains had been converted to a test train in order to test the new opening line such as Konya and fortcoming Istanbul lines. The Transportation Ministry had spent 14 Million TL (around 7 Mio Euros) and named the train -because it is a tradition for test trains - as "Piri Reis" the famous Turkish navy man, who draw the most accurate maps of the Mediterannian and America in 16th Century.
TCDD ordered 10 sets of HT65000 EMUs. The first set left Spain on November 10, 2007 and arrived in Turkey at Kapıkule on November 20, 2007.[6] 4 more sets came to Turkey in 2008, 3 more in 2009 and 2 more in 2010. On March 13, 2009, the inaugural ceremony took place in Ankara. The Turkish Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, along with the President of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, and the Minister of Turkish Transport, Binali Yıldırım inaugurated the opening of the first phase of the project (Eskişehir-Ankara).
The current route of the YHT is a double track, electrified 205 km (127 mi) long with ETCS, ATS, ERTMS, ATMS, SICAS and ATP standards.[1] The current route begins at Ankara Central Station. The YHT runs on the triple track line from Central station to Sincan, then single track from Sincan to Esenkent. At Esenkent the YHT switches on to the double track high-speed line. On this line the train passes over the Sakarya Viaduct and the Duatepe Tunnel. On this track the YHT reaches its top speed of 250 km/h (160 mph). The train switches back on to the normal route at Hasanbey (which has been upgraded from a single track line to a triple track line from Hasanbey to Eskişehir). The YHT continues to Eskişehir Central Station.[7]
The plans for the İstanbul-Ankara high-speed rail line will begin at Sincan and end at Gebze. From Ankara to Sincan the line will be upgraded from a triple track line to a 6 track line (2 tracks for commuter trains, 2 tracks inter-city trains and 2 tracks for high-speed train), along with the new Ankara Central Station.[2] At Sincan the YHT will switch to its high-speed track. It will stop at Eskişehir, Bilecik, İzmit and İstanbul. At Gebze the YHT will switch back on to the normal line, which will also be upgraded from a double track line to a quadruple track line for the Marmaray project.[8]
The Polatlı-Konya line is complete and is scheduled to open in fall 2011. Testing has begun on the line as of June 2011.
The Turkish State Railways agreed with Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles (CAF), a Spanish rail car building company, to design a high-speed train set in 2006. CAF introduced the HT65000 EMU set, similar to the RENFE Class 120 / 121 EMU sets. The HT65000 is a 6 car EMU set. Using 25 kV AC electrical system, these sets have an acceleration of 0,48 m/s² and the power input is 4,800 kW via pantograph.[9] One train set has a capacity of 411 passenger, 365 passenger in Economy class and 55 passengers in Business class (or 1st class).[1]
As of now the YHT only operates on high-speed track between the town of Esenkent, 33.79 km (21.00 mi) outside of Ankara, and Hasanbey, 6.50 km (4.04 mi) outside Eskişehir. On the high-speed track the YHT operates at 250 km/h (160 mph). On the 39 km portion between Ankara Central Station and Esenkent the YHT has a speed limit of 120 km/h (75 mph). This speed is still higher than the average speed of 90 km/h (56 mph) for trains running on the same track. The same speed restrictions apply on the 6 km portion of track before Eskişehir.
The YHT has 6 cars with cabins in the front and rear car. There are 1 business class car, 1 cafe car and 4 economy class cars. A business class car has a capacity of 55 passengers. The seating arrangements are 3 seats in a row (1 on one side, 2 on the other side). A economy class car has a capacity of 89 passengers. There are 4 seats in a row (2 on each side). Automatic sliding doors provide passage between cars. Baggage may be stowed in the overhead compartments above the seats, or underneath the seats. The HT65000 cars are wheelchair accessible.
On YHT service, there is usually 1 train engineers (2 on some trains), a train conductor, a car attendant and a cafe car attendant. Business class passengers are served meals at their seats. Maintenance for the YHT is done at the Etimesgut Yard in Ankara.
In economy class, fabric coated first class seats arranged in 2 + 2 and audio system. Acoustic and thermal comfort (the noise level will be less than 65 dB in passenger section), apart from the tables mounted at the back of the seats, two foldable tables in every passenger section. In business class leather coated seats in 2 +1 arrangement, a visual and audio broadcasting system that can broadcast at least 4 hours on 4 different channels. Wi-fi service is available with power inputs for laptops in business class.[10]
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