High-Speed Train Derailment in Turkey Kills Dozens

The Istanbul-Ankara train line and the E-5 highway were closed to traffic after the catastrophe. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan cancelled his trip to Bosnia-Herzegovina and went to the scene of the accident.

The high-speed train service between Istanbul and Ankara began on June 4, 2004. The new service shaved two hours off the usual 7.5 hour journey between the two cities. Many critics, however, had claimed that Turkey’s current rail infrastructure was not up to the standard required for high-speed trains.

Because of the interest shown by the public in the new high-speed service, passenger capacity on the trains was increased from 180 to 240. The maximum speed of the fast trains is set to 120km/h. According to the data given by the State Railway Directorate (TCDD), the train would normally travel at 75km/h in the region where it derailed.