Created for fuel, Türkiye’s first private rail freight operator broadens its horizons

Türkiye is not exactly known for having a bustling and thriving rail freight industry. Regardless, its rail sector seems to be on a modest growth trajectory with major infrastructure projects and a recently liberalised market. RailFreight.com spoke with the country’s first private operator, Körfez Ulaştırma, about its development and vision for the future. Körfez Ulaştırma is the dedicated rail freight subsidiary of Tüpraş, Türkiye’s largest industrial enterprise and primary oil refiner. The rail operator is still young. Tüpraş founded it following the rail market’s liberalisation in 2017.

This policy change “created an opportunity to manage transportation across the refinery–loading terminal–distribution chain in a more integrated, reliable and efficient manner, particularly in terms of capacity planning, safety and operational continuity”, the operator tells RailFreight.com. “Körfez Ulaştırma was established and positioned as an integrated rail solution designed to meet precisely these needs.”

Less than ten years later, Körfez Ulaştırma holds a rail freight market share of approximately 12% to 13%, according to the company itself. In 2025, it moved 2.4 million tonnes of fuel. For parent company Tüpraş, rail transportation offers clear advantages over road transportation in terms of safety, efficiency and sustainability. A single block train can move the equivalent of dozens of road tankers in one operation, enabling higher volumes, more predictable costs and a significantly lower carbon footprint.

This story was originally published by RailFreight.com. Read the full story at RailFreight.com →