In international rail freight, cargo is carried in wagons or on block trains carrying containers over cross-border lines; the carriage is documented with a CIM or SMGS consignment note, and customs formalities and, where necessary, a change of track gauge take place at the border. In Türkiye the infrastructure is managed by TCDD; freight trains are run by TCDD Taşımacılık and authorised private train operators.
Who carries freight in Türkiye?
Law No. 6461 on the Liberalisation of Rail Transport in Türkiye (Türkiye Demiryolu Ulaştırmasının Serbestleştirilmesi Hakkında Kanun), published on 1 May 2013, separated infrastructure from train operation. TCDD manages the lines as infrastructure manager. Freight and passenger trains are run by TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. and by railway train operators authorised by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure (Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı). Cargo owners usually do not work directly with the train operator but with rail operators or forwarders that purchase capacity.
Wagon and train types
| Type | Suitable cargo |
|---|---|
| Flat (container) wagon | 20- and 40-foot containers, swap bodies |
| Covered wagon | Palletised and packaged general cargo |
| Open, high-sided wagon | Bulk cargo such as coal, ore and scrap |
| Tank wagon | Liquid and gaseous cargo; RID rules for dangerous goods |
| Special and low-platform wagons | Heavy and oversized machine parts |
A train carrying a single customer's cargo from origin to destination without being split up is called a block train; details are in the entry block train. For smaller volumes, wagons are attached to different trains; this method is more flexible, but shunting and waiting times are longer.
Main international connections
- Europe: To Bulgaria via Kapıkule in Edirne. In Istanbul the two sides of the Bosphorus are connected by the Marmaray tunnel; in November 2019 the first freight train from China to Europe also passed through this tunnel.
- Caucasus and Central Asia: Via the Baku–Tbilisi–Kars line to Georgia and Azerbaijan, and from there across the Caspian Sea by ship to Kazakhstan and China; this whole route is called the Middle Corridor.
- Iran: Via Kapıköy in Van to the Iranian rail network.
Track gauge difference and transhipment
Türkiye, Iran and most of Europe use 1,435 mm standard gauge. Georgia, Azerbaijan, Russia and the Central Asian countries use 1,520 mm broad gauge. Where the two systems meet, either the cargo is transhipped or the wagons' bogies are changed. On the BTK line this point is Akhalkalaki in Georgia. For containers, transhipment by crane is quick; for bulk and palletised cargo, it takes longer and increases the risk of damage.
The carriage step by step
- Route and capacity: The route, departure days and wagon/container capacity are obtained from the operator.
- First mile: The cargo is brought from the factory to the loading station or terminal, mostly by road.
- Loading and securing: Stowage inside the wagon is done to withstand the shocks and shunting forces of rail transport.
- Documents: The consignment note (CIM or SMGS) and the customs transit declaration are prepared.
- Border and transhipment: Customs formalities and the change of track gauge are carried out.
- Last mile: Delivery from the destination station to the consignee is again mostly completed by road.
Advantages and disadvantages
- For heavy and bulky cargo over long distances, the cost per tonne is generally low.
- Carbon emissions per tonne-kilometre are lower than by road.
- It is not affected by the driver and transit permit constraints of road transport.
- On the other hand, it depends on the departure schedule; transhipments, border waiting times and wagon availability can extend transit time.
- Door-to-door carriage often requires road connections at both ends; this is why rail is usually part of an intermodal chain.
Road connection and alternative
Voltim Global does not offer a rail freight service. However, the road connection at both ends of a rail chain, or an international road freight alternative on the same route when the departure schedule does not fit, can be planned with partner carriers, combined with container transport where needed.