Finance

Türkiye, November 2026 – Turkish State Railways (TCDD) has signed a €350 million (approximately US$393 million) financing agreement with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank under its Railway Maintenance Modernization Project. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the investment will support the replacement of ageing maintenance machinery, strengthen institutional capabilities and improve the efficiency, safety and sustainability of railway operations.

The project will introduce 99 next-generation maintenance machines covering track, switches and overhead electrical systems. The fleet will include eight turnout tamping machines, 11 continuously operating 32-tine tamping machines, seven ballast regulators, one rail milling machine, one rail grinding machine, six dynamic track stabilisers, 24 catenary maintenance vehicles and 41 positioning vehicles. These machines are designed to improve track alignment, maintain ballast conditions, service railway switches and support overhead power infrastructure.

The upgraded equipment is expected to reduce maintenance durations and improve the efficiency of railway infrastructure servicing. By introducing more advanced machinery, TCDD aims to reduce the average age of its existing fleet while strengthening its ability to maintain conventional and high-speed railway lines. The project also includes institutional capacity development to support the effective adoption and long-term management of the new equipment.

Procurement preparations have been completed, with tender notices already published ahead of the planned tender process in December 2026. According to Uraloğlu, all 99 machines are expected to be delivered within 48 months after the respective contracts are signed. The investment forms part of Türkiye's wider railway modernisation strategy, which places emphasis on improving existing infrastructure alongside the construction of new railway lines.

The financing highlights the growing importance of specialised maintenance technology in national railway development. For Türkiye, renewing its maintenance fleet is expected to strengthen infrastructure reliability, reduce maintenance-related service disruptions and support safer railway operations. The project also demonstrates how international development financing can help railway operators address ageing assets while building long-term technical and operational capabilities.

Source: Türkiye Today