Rail freight transportation and operation
Rail freight transportation and operation
Business Model Description
Investments in rail freight transportation and operation by private sector companies
Expected Impact
This IOA will develop the transportation infrastructure in the country, reduce the cost of logistics and freight transportation, and promote uninterrupted supply-chains.
How is this information gathered?
Investment opportunities with potential to contribute to sustainable development are based on country-level SDG Investor Maps.
Disclaimer
UNDP, the Private Finance for the SDGs, and their affiliates (collectively “UNDP”) do not seek or solicit investment for programmes, projects, or opportunities described on this site (collectively “Programmes”) or any other Programmes, and nothing on this page should constitute a solicitation for investment. The actors listed on this site are not partners of UNDP, and their inclusion should not be construed as an endorsement or recommendation by UNDP for any relationship or investment.
The descriptions on this page are provided for informational purposes only. Only companies and enterprises that appear under the case study tab have been validated and vetted through UNDP programmes such as the Growth Stage Impact Ventures (GSIV), Business Call to Action (BCtA), or through other UN agencies. Even then, under no circumstances should their appearance on this website be construed as an endorsement for any relationship or investment. UNDP assumes no liability for investment losses directly or indirectly resulting from recommendations made, implied, or inferred by its research. Likewise, UNDP assumes no claim to investment gains directly or indirectly resulting from trading profits, investment management, or advisory fees obtained by following investment recommendations made, implied, or inferred by its research.
Investment involves risk, and all investments should be made with the supervision of a professional investment manager or advisor. The materials on the website are not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any investment, security, or commodity, nor shall any security be offered or sold to any person, in any jurisdiction in which such offer would be unlawful under the securities laws of such jurisdiction.
Country & Regions
- Turkey: Eastern Anatolia Region
- Turkey: Marmara Region
Sector Classification
Transportation
Development need
In 2020, Turkey ranked 47th (out of 160) in the Logistics Performance Index after being ranked 34th in 2016.(3) Connections between industrial facilities, ports and railway systems are not adequately developed. To improve competitiveness, Turkey needs to reduce logistics costs and develop combined transportation modes with higher shares of railway and maritime transportation.(4)
Policy priority
The government has an objective to improve an integrated transportation infrastructure covering all modes of transportation. The infrastructure is planned to ensure maximum traffic safety and serve all segments of society with a sustainable and uninterrupted transportation system. (5)
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
Transport is a male-dominated sector, female participation in the transport sector is around 10% in Turkey. Additionally, inadequate transport infrastructure impacts women's access to work and education/skills-improvement, especially in rural areas. (21) Investments in transport infrastructure to incorporate new cities in the Turkish supply chain will decrease regional economic disparities
Investment opportunities
The total public investment in transportation is planned as 25 billion TRY (3.7 billion USD) with the largest shares going to railways (43&), highways (27%) and intracity transportation (23%).(6)
Key bottlenecks
Under-investment in transportation infrastructure poses supply-chain constraints for the exchange of products and services. As the population expands, the existing transportation infrastructure may be rendered insufficient. If transportation infrastructure is not developed, this will cause further issues in traffic congestion and reflect negatively on SDG 11.
Land Transportation
Development need
Despite improvements in the logistics and transportation infrastructure in highways, there is still asiginificant need to focus on cargo transportation and railway mode in transportation investments.There is a need to optimize freight transportation times and costs, provide uninterrupted services for citizens and opt for more environmentally friend modes of transportation
Policy priority
Turkey has an objective to complete 2,028 km for High-Speed Trains and 228 km conventional networks for passenger and freight transport. (2)
Gender inequalities and marginalization issues
Transport is a male-dominated sector, female participation in the transport sector is around 10% in Turkey. Additionally, inadequate transport infrastructure impacts women's access to work and education/skills-improvement, especially in rural areas. (21) Investments in transport infrastructure to incorporate new cities in the Turkish supply chain will decrease regional economic disparities
Investment opportunities
A variety of incentives are available for large scale investments in this area. Investments in the domestic manufacturing of railway and tram locomotive parts benefit from Region I, II, III, IV, V and VI incentives
Key bottlenecks
Some of the bottlenecks include the physical conditions of the surrounding landscape where subway and trainlines are constructed. There are operational obstacles as the subsidies offered to TCDD (the state railways) might crowd-out the private sector. Moreover, this investment area is highly regulated.
Rail Transportation
Pipeline Opportunity
Rail freight transportation and operation
Investments in rail freight transportation and operation by private sector companies
Business Case
Market Size and Environment
> USD 1 billion
The share of railways in exports and imports
The global annual railway vehicle market size is 185 billion EUR. (10) Turkey's annual railway vehicle market size is 5 billion EUR. (7)
In 2019, the share of railways in exports showed a 33% increase on 2018, amounting to 967 million USD worth of exports. Similarly, imports transported via railways reached 1.4 billion USD in 2019 showing a 15.8% increase on 2018. (8)
Indicative Return
15% - 20%
Interviewed investors active in the Turkish railways market target an IRR at the 12-20% level from investments in the field.
Investment Timeframe
Long Term (10+ years)
>Investments in railway vehicles are long term, ranging between 10-15 years. >Licenses to operate routes are given for long-term with a minimum of 10 years. (9) >Construction of new railway routes and networks take medium to long term depending on the specifics of the route planned.
Ticket Size
> USD 10 million
Market Risks & Scale Obstacles
Market - Highly Regulated
Capital - CapEx Intensive
Impact Case
Sustainable Development Need
The COVID-19 pandemic showcased the need for uninterrupted modes of transportation, bringing forward railway transportation as the most suitable mode vis-a-vis increased pressures on international trade due to disruptions in other modes of transport.
Highways still present significant traffic safety issues. The dominant position of highways among transport modes persists in passenger and cargo transportation, and it is necessary to focus on cargo transportation and railway mode in transportation investments. (10)
The share of railway transportation for passenger and freight transport in Turkey is below the EU-28 average. (11)
Gender & Marginalisation
Female employment in the transport sector in Turkey is at 10%. (21) The transport sector in Turkey is male-dominated. Increased investments combined with the right gender-based policies will increase the employment of women in this sector.
Expected Development Outcome
Optimize freight transportation across the country and with trade partners by improving infrastructure efficiency through geometric improvements and providing an uninterrupted and sustainable mode of transportation, which is particularly vital vis-a-vis the COVID-19 outbreak.
Reduce fuel emissions from highway freight transportation as on average, railroads are 4 times more fuel efficient than trucks, meaning that freight transportation through railways reduces GHG emissions by 75% compared to moving freight through trucks. (12)
Reduce cargo waste emanating from inefficient railway infrastructure and operation by optimizing flexible connection routes.
Gender & Marginalisation
Reduce travel times / increase access to transport for female, rural, inmigrant population
Primary SDGs addressed
8.4.1 Material footprint, material footprint per capita, and material footprint per GDP
16 tonnes per capita (13)
9.1.2 Passenger and freight volumes, by mode of transport
9.4.1 CO2 emission per unit of value added
9.5.1 Research and development expenditure as a proportion of GDP
Railway passengers carried: 4.39 billion passenger-km (14)
0.26 kilograms per $ of GDP (14)
0.96% (15)
3.7% (15)
11.2.1 Proportion of population that has convenient access to public transport, by sex, age and persons with disabilities
Secondary SDGs addressed
Directly impacted stakeholders
People
Gender inequality and/or marginalization
Planet
Corporates
Public sector
Indirectly impacted stakeholders
People
Outcome Risks
The increase in railway networks might increase foreign dependency as leading manufacturers and operators are international firms.
Impact Risks
Execution Risk External Risk Unexpected Impact Risk
Impact Classification
What
Reduced share of highway in transport
Risk
High Risk (The foreign dependent nature of railway production is exposed to high currency risks.)
Impact Thesis
This IOA will develop the transportation infrastructure in the country, reduce the cost of logistics and freight transportation, and promote uninterrupted supply-chains.
Enabling Environment
Policy Environment
(11th Development Plan): From the 11th Development Plan: (4) Rail system vehicles are identified as a prioritized sector in the Plan. The share of railways in modes of national territorial transport systems will be increased to 10%.
(11th Development Plan): 11th Development Plan: There is also an objective to increase railway's share in passenger transport to 15% and in freight transport to 20% by 2035. (4)
(2019-2023 Strategic Plan of the State Railways): The 2019-2023 Strategic Plan of the State Railways sets out the priorities of the railway sector in Turkey, which includes extending railway networks and connecting to other modes of transportation and strategic locations
Financial Environment
Financial incentives: As part of the nationalization and local production efforts, loans from state banks can be received with favorable conditions. Credits from international banks with affordable LIBOR interest are also available with guarantees from the Treasury. (7)
Fiscal incentives: Regional investment and project-based incentives by the Ministry of Industry and Technology include: VAT exemption, customs duty exemption, tax deduction, social security premium support, interest/profit share support, VAT returns for investments above 500 million TRY. (7)
Regulatory Environment
(Regulation): The State Railways of Turkey (TCDD) is a government-owned railway company responsible for the operations of most passenger and freight rail in Turkey.
(Regulation): The Law on the Liberalisation of Turkish Railway Transportation numbered 6461 came into force in 2013 with the objective to liberalise the railway industry and increase efficiency and quality through private sector investments.
(Regulation): With the Presidential Decree No: 56 dated 17 January 2020, the Directorate General (DG) for Regulation of Railways was merged with DG for Regulation of Dangerous Goods and Combined Transport and DG for Regulation of Road Transport under the name of General Directorate for Regulation of Transport Services.
Marketplace Participants
Private Sector
Koç Holding, Arkas, Körfez Ulaştırma, Omsan, Koç Holding, Ozenray, Arkas, Körfez Ulaştırma, Tülomsaş, Aselsan, Siemens, Maintenance and repair companies such as Greenbrier.
Government
State Railways of Turkey, the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure, Railway Systems Association (RSD)
Multilaterals
EBRD
Non-Profit
Association of Rail Transport Systems and Industrialists (RAYDER).
Target Locations
Turkey: Eastern Anatolia Region
Turkey: Marmara Region
References
- (1) Interview with TOBB Transportation Council Member, 2020
- (2) State Railways of Rep. of Turkey 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. http://www.sp.gov.tr/upload/xSPStratejikPlan/files/wyMtM+20192023sp.pdf
- (3) World Bank, 2019, https://lpi.worldbank.org/international/scorecard/radar/56/C/TUR/2018/C/DEU/2018
- (4) Presidency of Strategy and Budget, 11th Development Plan, http://www.sbb.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/On_BirinciPLan_ingilizce_SonBaski.pdf
- (5) State Railways of Rep. of Turkey 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. http://www.sp.gov.tr/upload/xSPStratejikPlan/files/wyMtM+20192023sp.pdf
- (6) Presidency of Strategy and Budget, 2020 Investment Program. http://www.sbb.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/2020_Yatirim_Programi.pdf
- (21) European Bank of Reconstruction and Development, Transportation Strategy 2019-2024, https://www.ebrd.com/documents/transport/strategy-for-transport.pdf
- (7) Survey filled out by Istanbul Metro AŞ.
- (8) Anadolu Agency, 05.02.2020. Share of railways rising in trade. https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/ekonomi/ticarette-demir-yolunun-payi-yukseliyor/1724737
- (9) Dunya, 2016. https://www.dunya.com/ekonomi/demiryolunda-gozler-artik-ozel-sektorde-haberi-326888
- (10) 11th Development Plan, Presidency of Strategy and Budget, http://www.sbb.gov.tr/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/On_BirinciPLan_ingilizce_SonBaski.pdf
- (11) Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. https://www.uab.gov.tr/uploads/pages/stratejik-yonetim/uab-2019-2023-stratejik-plani-16-10-2019.pdf
- (12) Statistics by the Ministry of Trade, 2020. https://ticaret.gov.tr/istatistikler/dis-ticaret-istatistikleri/dis-ticaret-istatistikleri-2019-2020-ocak-mart-donemi-genel-ticaret-sistemi
- (13) Footprint Network, 2015, https://www.footprintnetwork.org/content/images/uploads/Turkey_Ecological_Footprint_Report_Executive_Summary-Conclusion.pdf
- (14) SDG Tracker, 2020, https://sdg-tracker.org/
- (15) SDG Index & Dashboard, 2020, https://dashboards.sdgindex.org/profiles/TUR/indicators
- (16) Security General Directorate, Traffic Department. Statistics. http://trafik.gov.tr/kurumlar/trafik.gov.tr/04-Istatistik/Genel/Genel_Kazalarr.pdf
- (17) World Health Organization, Road Safety InTurkey, https://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/road_traffic/countrywork/tur/en/
- (18) Bilgili, Levent et al. “Evaluation of railway versus highway emissions using LCA approach between the two cities of Middle Anatolia.” Sustainable Cities and Society 49 (2019): 101635.
- (19) Siemens Annual Report 2019. https://assets.new.siemens.com/siemens/assets/api/uuid:59a922d1-eca0-4e23-adef-64a05f0a8a61/siemens-ar2019.pdf
- (20) Statement by the Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, 2020. https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/2019da-demiryolu-tasimaciligi-rekor-kirdi-41454841
- (22) Interview with TOBB Transportation Council Member, 2020.
- (23) State Railways of Rep. of Turkey 2019-2023 Strategic Plan. http://www.sp.gov.tr/upload/xSPStratejikPlan/files/wyMtM+20192023sp.pdf.