The Ankara–Sivas high-speed railway (Turkish: Ankara–Sivas yüksek hızlı demiryolu), is a 406 km (252 mi) long high-speed railway in Turkey and is the second longest high-speed railway in the country after the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed railway. Travel time between Ankara and Sivas was reduced to 2 hours and 50 minutes,[2] from around 9 hours and 30 minutes with conventional trains.[3][4] The railway will also serve as an extension of the Ankara-Istanbul HSR with a total journey time from Istanbul to Sivas at around 7 hours. The line was opened on April 26, 2023.[5]
| Ankara–Sivas high-speed railway | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 A viaduct east of Kırıkkale. | |||
| Overview | |||
| Status | In operation | ||
| Owner | Turkish State Railways | ||
| Locale | Central Anatolia | ||
| Termini | |||
| Service | |||
| Type | High-speed rail | ||
| System | Turkish State Railways | ||
| Operator(s) | TCDD Taşımacılık | ||
| Depot(s) | |||
| History | |||
| Opened | Trial run as an evacuation service: 15 February 2023 (Sivas-Kırıkkale) Scheduled operations:[1] 26 April 2023 | ||
| Technical | |||
| Line length | 406 km (252.28 mi) | ||
| Number of tracks | Double track | ||
| Character | Trunk | ||
| Track gauge | 1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gauge | ||
| Loading gauge | TCDD gross gauge | ||
| Minimum radius | 3,500 m | ||
| Electrification | 25 kV, 50 Hz AC overhead line | ||
| Operating speed | 250 km/h (160 mph) | ||
| Maximum incline | 18‰ | ||
| |||
History and the project
In order to reduce travel time between Ankara and Sivas, TCDD undertook a survey for a new high-speed railway line in 2004. Construction began in 2008 with some pauses in 2010 due to changes in the project. When completed, the Ankara-Sivas journey time is expected to be reduced to 2 hours and 50 minutes compared with a previous travel time of 12 hours. Testing on the line began in March 2020. The line partially opened in February 2023, and other portions started service in the April of the same year.
Stations
There are a total of 11 stations on the railway, five of which are in operation. With the exception of Ankara, Kayaş and Sivas stations,[6] every station on the railway has been built exclusively for high-speed train use. When the railway first opened to revenue service, on 26 April 2023, only two new stations opened: Kırıkkale YHT and Yozgat YHT. The remaining stations (not counting the existing stations) will be opened within 2023.
| Province | City | Distance from Ankara | Station | YHT services[7] | Additional rail services/connections |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ankara | Ankara | 0 km (0 mi) | Ankara YHT | Ank-Siv | TCDD Taşımacılık: Ankara Express, Başkentray, Eastern Express, İzmir Blue Train, Lake Van Express, Southern Kurtalan Express, 4 Sept. Blue Train Ankara Metro: M1, Ankaray |
| 12 km (7.5 mi) | Kayaş | Ank-Siv | TCDD Taşımacılık: Başkentray, Eastern Express, Lake Van Express, Southern Kurtalan Express, 4 Sept. Blue Train | ||
| Elmadağ | 35 km (22 mi) | Elmadağ YHT | |||
| Kırıkkale | Kırıkkale | 76 km (47 mi) | Kırıkkale YHT | Ank-Siv | |
| Yozgat | Yerköy | 169 km (105 mi) | Yerköy YHT | ||
| Yozgat | 204 km (127 mi) | Yozgat YHT | Ank-Siv | ||
| Sorgun | 234 km (145 mi) | Sorgun YHT | Ank-Siv | ||
| Akdağmadeni | 298 km (185 mi) | Akdağmadeni YHT | Ank-Siv | ||
| Sivas | Yıldızeli | 360 km (220 mi) | Yıldızeli YHT | ||
| Sivas | 406 km (252 mi) | Sivas | Ank-Siv | TCDD Taşımacılık: Eastern Express, Lake Van Express, Southern Kurtalan Express, 4 Sept. Blue Train | |
| 407 km (253 mi) | Sivas YHT |
Sections and speeds
Constructions are divided into four sections:
| Section | Length | Max Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ankara Central - Kayaş | 12 km | 140 km/h | |
| Kayaş - Kırıkkale | 62 km | 250 km/h | Opened in April 2023 |
| Kırıkkale - Yerköy | 79 km | Opened in February 2023, initially as an evacuation service for the victims of 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake | |
| Yerköy - Sivas | 253 km | Opened in February 2023, initially as an evacuation service for the victims of 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake | |
| Sivas Yapı connection | 460 m | 180 km/h | Short link track connecting to the classic train route approaching the city from the west |