Rail transport

The Turkish railways have posted record figures in freight and passenger transportation for 2019, the country's transport minister said.

The total passenger numbers through Turkey's railways reached 149.8 million, said Cahit Turhan on Feb. 25.

The number of passengers travelled through high-speed trains grew 2 percent year-on-year to 8.3 million in 2019, he said.

Traveling by train in Bulgaria is not like walking in the park at all, according to an Euronews publication on European rail transport entitled 'A world of train': Where in Europe is rail travel a nightmare?

From France's high-speed TGVs to Moldova's Soviet-era services with wooden benches, Europe's train network is a patchwork of varying standards.

Seeking to ensure that the disruption suffered by commuters during Tuesday's general strike is not repeated, Transport Minister Kostas A. Karamanlis on Wednesday announced measures to ensure that some form of public transport remains operational during industrial action.

Trains resumed their operation along Greece's core railway line linking Athens with Thessaloniki from 3 p.m. on Tuesday, following the intervention by Transport and Infrastructures Minister Kostas Karamanlis that led to the departure of unionists from the main train depot at Rendi in Piraeus.

Commuters in Athens were stranded on train platforms on Tuesday morning as railway operator Trainose unexpectedly announced that the Athens suburban railway (Proastiakos) and intercity trains will not be operating due to an "sudden, unannounced" strike of railway employees at the main train depot in Athens.

Trains and the suburban railway will not participate in a 24-hour strike of employees in public transport on Tuesday, called in protest at the government's social security bill.

The planned full-day strike in the tram, metro, ISAP railway, trolley or bus service is expected to cause major traffic in Athens.

There will be no tram, metro, ISAP railway, trolley or bus service Tuesday due to the participation of workers in a 24-hour strike in protest at the government's social security bill.
In a statement on Saturday, the Athens Urban Rail Transport Company (STASY) denounced the new legislation, saying the government has not kept its promise to increase pensions.

Turkey's largest metropolis Istanbul has celebrated the anniversary of its two landmark transportation systems in the historical Beyoğlu district.

The historic tram connecting Istanbul's Tünel Square and Taksim Square made a celebration tour to mark its 106th anniversary on Feb. 11.

Greece's northern port city of Thessaloniki will have its own metro system ready by 2023, General Secretary of Public Works Giorgos Karayiannis said Thursday during a worksite inspection.

Eight Regio trains will not run today due to adverse weather conditions, to make way for snow removal equipment, according to CFR Calatori.