The rail passenger transport sector in Turkey has shown significant growth over the past decade, with volumes increasing from 6.23 billion passenger kilometers in 2013 to 14.56 billion in 2023. Notable fluctuations include a drastic increase of 59.53% in 2019 followed by a sharp decline of 41.81% in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The sector rebounded with consecutive significant year-on-year growths of 17.58%, 26.37%, and 18.1% in 2021, 2022, and 2023, respectively.
Looking forward, the forecasted growth indicates a steady CAGR of 4.95% over the next five years, with the sector expected to reach 19.94 billion passenger kilometers by 2028, reflecting a five-year growth rate of 27.32% from 2024-2028.
Future trends to watch for include digitalization in ticketing and passenger services, increased investments in high-speed rail infrastructure, and the impact of environmental policies promoting the use of rail transport over other less sustainable modes.
