{"id":591028,"date":"2026-11-04T20:27:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T09:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.railfreight.com\/?p=75693"},"modified":"2026-11-04T20:27:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T09:27:00","slug":"created-for-fuel-turkiyes-first-private-rail-freight-operator-broadens-its-horizons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=591028","title":{"rendered":"Created for fuel, T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s first private rail freight operator broadens its horizons"},"content":{"rendered":"

T\u00fcrkiye is not exactly known for having a bustling and thriving rail freight industry. Regardless, its rail sector seems to be on a modest growth trajectory with major infrastructure projects and a recently liberalised market. RailFreight.com spoke with the country\u2019s first private operator, K\u00f6rfez Ula\u015ft\u0131rma, about its development and vision for the future.<\/strong>
\n<\/span>K\u00f6rfez Ula\u015ft\u0131rma is the dedicated rail freight subsidiary of T\u00fcpra\u015f, T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s largest industrial enterprise and primary oil refiner. The rail operator is still young. T\u00fcpra\u015f founded it following the rail market\u2019s liberalisation in 2017.<\/p>\n

This policy change \u201ccreated an opportunity to manage transportation across the refinery\u2013loading terminal\u2013distribution chain in a more integrated, reliable and efficient manner, particularly in terms of capacity planning, safety and operational continuity\u201d, the operator tells RailFreight.com. \u201cK\u00f6rfez Ula\u015ft\u0131rma was established and positioned as an integrated rail solution designed to meet precisely these needs.\u201d<\/p>\n

Less than ten years later, K\u00f6rfez Ula\u015ft\u0131rma holds a rail freight market share of approximately 12% to 13%, according to the company itself. In 2025, it moved 2.4 million tonnes of fuel. For parent company T\u00fcpra\u015f, rail transportation offers clear advantages over road transportation in terms of safety, efficiency and sustainability. A single block train can move the equivalent of dozens of road tankers in one operation, enabling higher volumes, more predictable costs and a significantly lower carbon footprint.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Image: Bahnbilder.ch \u00a9 David Gubler<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Beyond fuels<\/h2>\n

K\u00f6rfez Ula\u015ft\u0131rma believes it has proven its value for T\u00fcpra\u015f in fuel transportation. However, the rail operator now also has customers beyond T\u00fcpra\u015f, and it operates in freight segments beyond fuel transportation. The operator explains that it now also provides container transport services between ports and industrial customers, such as Beko and T\u00fcrk Trakt\u00f6r. Moreover, it operates Europe-connected intermodal services on the Halkal\u0131\u2013Kap\u0131kule and Railport\u2013Kap\u0131kule lines (towards Bulgaria) in cooperation with Mars Logistics.<\/p>\n

While fuel and other dangerous goods remain the backbone of the business model, container transportation to and from ports and intermodal traffic are now some of the fastest-growing segments of the operator\u2019s portfolio. K\u00f6rfez Ula\u015ft\u0131rma started serving ports in 2024, and in 2025 it operated 85 block trains between Halkal\u0131 and Kap\u0131kule.<\/p>\n

This fits within K\u00f6rfez\u2019s business strategy, which emphasises controlled growth while safeguarding the safety and continuity of existing operations. The company is broadening its horizons, but it is not pursuing growth for the sake of volume alone.<\/p>\n

In pursuit of sustainable value<\/h2>\n

\u201cWe are selectively evaluating intermodal opportunities and different cargo segments that are aligned with our capabilities. New routes, such as finished-vehicle transportation originating from Ford\u2019s plant in Romania, are a concrete example of this approach.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAs we grow, our guiding principle is not volume maximisation, but the creation of sustainable value for our customers and stakeholders\u201d, the operator adds.<\/p>\n

K\u00f6rfez Ula\u015ft\u0131rma could, in due course, expand its core business activities to include export-oriented transportation as well. At present, the operator does not provide any fuel export transportation services to destinations outside T\u00fcrkiye. However, it does see this as a potential opportunity area that may be evaluated over the medium term. This is because the Middle Corridor and cross-border rail connections continue to develop, the company says.<\/p>\n

New opportunities<\/h2>\n

Among those developments are the Istanbul bypass (INRAIL) and the Iraq Development Road. These projects could create \u201csignificant opportunities\u201d for rail freight, believes K\u00f6rfez. The most promising outcomes for the rail operator are the expansion of the range of products that can be transported by rail between Asia and Europe, as well as the potentially shorter and more predictable transit times through alternative routes.<\/p>\n

\"\"
The INRAIL project past Istanbul shown in blue. Image: \u00a9 Turkish Ministry of Transport<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The abovementioned projects inspire hope for the future of Turkish rail freight. Recent developments, too, point to operational improvements. T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s railway infrastructure has seen significant investment and modernisation in recent years. K\u00f6rfez expects it to have a positive impact on capacity, safety and efficiency.<\/p>\n

It seems that a continuation of these investments would be welcomed<\/strong>, since challenges remain. K\u00f6rfez Ula\u015ft\u0131rma encounters capacity constraints caused by single-track operations and relatively low average line speeds. Capacity at key terminals can at times struggle to keep pace with demand.<\/p>\n

K\u00f6rfez has some concrete ideas on how to improve the circumstances for Turkish rail freight<\/strong>. Firstly, stronger coordination mechanisms should ensure operational continuity while infrastructure works are going on. Secondly, branch lines providing direct rail access to industrial zones and ports should be expanded, as this would reduce intermediate road haulage and make rail freight more competitive, the operator explains. Lastly, K\u00f6rfez would like to see further improvements to track access charges and stronger incentives for electrification.<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

T\u00fcrkiye is not exactly known for having a bustling and thriving rail freight industry. Regardless, its rail sector seems to be on a modest growth\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21522,78,47,21523,71,8804],"tags":[12634],"class_list":["post-591028","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-korfez-ulastirma","category-rail-freight","category-rail-news","category-tupras","category-turkey","category-turkiye","tag-railfreight"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t