Founded with the mission of "Rail systems are our national cause," ARUS has been an advocate and supporter of domestic and national production in rail systems since its inception, and strongly represents its cluster members both domestically and internationally.
ARUS, a key player in the localization of the rail systems sector, also organizes various events to foster close collaborations between its members and public institutions. In this context, nearly 200 bilateral business meetings were held during a program organized by ARUS with the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and related organizations at OSTİM.
The Ministry valued the private sector; it was produced entirely domestically.
Speaking at the opening of the program, OSTİM Board Chairman Orhan Aydın drew attention to the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure's practices in achieving domestic production in rail systems. Aydın said, “I wholeheartedly congratulate our Ministry. Because of the Ministry's dedication to this work and its value given to collaborations with the private sector and universities, Turkey has become capable of producing rail system vehicles entirely domestically. We believe that the clustering activity is very meaningful. When we look at the results, we see that the work done has paid off. I thank all the Ministry bureaucrats and private sector representatives who have contributed to this effort.”
We are aware of the contributions of the private sector.
TCDD Deputy General Manager Turgay Gökdemir drew attention to the importance of localization efforts in the rail systems sector. Gökdemir stated, "We are aware of the contributions of the private sector in achieving our goals."
100% support for projects is starting
Selami Yazıcı, Head of the Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure's Directorate General of Railways and Railways (UDHAM), provided information about the planned projects related to rail systems. He explained the targets for the rail systems sector in the 12th Development Plan. Yazıcı stated, "Rail systems received the largest share of our Ministry's 2024 budget. We are beginning to fully support the projects of public institutions, organizations, and universities. We have carried out a very successful project with the Communication Technologies Cluster."
Significant incentives are coming for those entering the sector for the first time.
Feriha Mert, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Transportation Services Regulation at the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure of the Republic of Turkey, reminded that a country's level of development is directly proportional to the development of its railway system. Providing information about the support they offer, Mert stated that no type approval certificate fees will be charged for domestically produced railway vehicles until the end of 2027. Feriha Mert added, "We are also introducing very important incentives for those who will be entering the railway sector for the first time."
Enver Mamur, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments at the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Turkey, provided information about railway projects. Mamur explained: “New high-speed rail lines will be commissioned by 2030. High-speed rail lines will carry not only passengers but also freight. Tender processes have begun for 12 railway connection lines.”
Enver Mamur stated that the total length of the urban rail system projects they are carrying out is 870 km. He announced that the domestic production rate has reached 72%, adding, "It is possible to increase this to 80% with very small efforts."
Mamur provided the following information about Turkey's rail system needs in the coming years: “Turkey's railway train set requirement until 2029 is 67 units, with a total cost of 2.4 billion Euros. By 2035, 6,897 metro, tram, and LRT trains will be needed. The total cost is 17.4 billion Euros.”
Mamur stated that major global rail system manufacturers have come to Türkiye with requests to produce in Turkey, and that they have told them that they should carry out their processes in Turkey with local manufacturers.
Enver Mamur added that they also submitted a report to the Minister regarding the direct procurement of urban rail system vehicles by municipalities, rather than through tender processes.
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