Strategic Cooperation Protocols were signed at the Türkiye Rail Systems Business Forum 2026, organized by ARUS.
The Turkey Rail Systems Business Forum 2026, organized by the Anatolian Rail Transportation Systems (ARUS) Cluster, was held on February 12-13, 2026, at the TÜBİTAK Gebze Campus, hosted by the TÜBİTAK Rail Transportation Technologies Institute (RUTE).
Bringing together the public sector, industry, and academia on the same platform, this comprehensive organization, which addressed strategic topics of the sector ranging from investment policies to R&D and incentive mechanisms, from legislation and standards to the vision of domestic and national production, became an important meeting that shaped the future of the rail systems ecosystem.
The Turkish Rail Systems Business Forum was attended by the Deputy Ministers of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure of the Republic of Turkey, Dr. Çetin Ali Dönmez and Osman Boyraz; the General Director of Sectors and Public Investments at the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey's Strategy and Budget Directorate, Faruk Cirit; the President of TÜBİTAK, Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın; the General Director of AYGM, Dr. Yalçın Eyigün; the General Director of Development Agencies, Ahmet Şimşek; the General Director of TÜRASAŞ, Selim Koçbay; the Deputy General Director of TCDD, Öner Özgür; the Deputy General Director of TCDD Transportation, Erhan Gör; the President of UHDGM, Selami Yazıcı; the Head of Clustering Department at the General Directorate of R&D Incentives of the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey, Canan Ünlü Şahin; the President of OSTIM, Orhan Aydın; and the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kardemir. We held the event with the valuable participation of Muhammed Ali Oflaz, Aselsan Deputy General Manager Mr. Alaattin Dökmen, and our ARUS Board members.
With a vision of domestic and national production, we are building a strong ecosystem in the field of rail systems, and we are resolutely continuing our work with the goal of producing technology in rail systems and increasing global competitiveness.
Within the scope of the forum, significant collaborations were realized for the development of domestic and national technologies in rail systems. In this context;
Protocols were signed between TÜBİTAK and TCDD to expand the use of YERLİSİGNAL systems by making them ERTMS compliant.
Protocols were signed to increase the use of Automatic Train Inspection Stations throughout the country.
A critical cooperation protocol was signed between AYGM, ASELSAN, and TÜBİTAK RUTE to expand metro signaling systems.
A URAYSİM Support Cooperation Protocol was signed between TÜBİTAK and TÜRASAŞ.
Protocols were signed regarding the development of software for the National COCO Locomotive. Following the opening and signing ceremonies, the first and second days included panel sessions on Investment, R&D and Incentive Strategies in Rail Systems, Legislation, Standardization and European Union Harmonization Policies in the Railway Sector, Sectoral Development and Expectations from the Perspective of Urban Rail System Operators, and the Domestic Production Ecosystem in Rail System Vehicles, as well as the launch of the ARUS Clustering Support Program supported by the Ministry of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey and B2B collaboration meetings between companies.
In the "Investment, R&D and Incentive Strategies in Rail Systems" panel, moderated by Mr. Faruk Cirit, General Director of Sectors and Public Investments at the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey's Strategy and Budget Directorate;
AYGM General Manager Dr. Yalçın Eyigün,
Development Agencies General Manager Ahmet Şimşek,
UDHAM President Selami Yazıcı, and
Representing the President of TÜBİTAK, TÜBİTAK-RUTE Director Dr. Tolgahan Kaya participated in the panel, where information was presented to the participants on investments made and planned in rail systems, R&D studies, and institutional incentives. The second panel on Legislation, Standardization and European Union Harmonization Policies in the Railway Sector, moderated by Prof. Dr. Oral ERDOĞAN, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TürkLoydu and Faculty Member of Piri Reis University, included:
Mr. Mehmet Halil MADAZLI / Deputy Director General of Product Safety and Inspection, Ministry of Trade,
Dr. Kürşat ÖZDEMİR / Deputy Secretary General of the Turkish Accreditation Agency (TÜRKAK), Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
Mr. Mustafa Kırmızıgül / Head of Railway Certification Department, General Directorate of Transportation Services Regulation, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure,
Mr. Öncü Alper / Head of Transportation Sector Group, Turkish Standards Institute,
Mr. Ömer TANGÜL / General Directorate of European Union and Foreign Relations, Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
The panel provided information on legislation, standardization, and European Union harmonization policies in the railway sector. It also explained the efforts undertaken since 2013 in cooperation with EU authorities to enable the appointment of NoBos (Non-Boarding Officers) based in Türkiye, and the steps taken to finalize the process.
The 3rd panel, titled "Sectoral Development and Expectations from the Perspective of Urban Rail System Operators," was moderated by Dr. Özgür SOY, Chairman of the Board of Directors of TÜRSİD and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Metro Istanbul.
Mr. Melih DİPOVA / General Manager of Antalya Transportation Inc.,
Mr. Mehmet CANBULUT / Chairman of the Board of Directors of Kayseri Transportation Inc.,
Mr. Murat ZORAL / Branch Manager of Ankaray Operations,
Mr. Sinan KARAKUZU / General Manager of İzmir Metro Inc.
The panel discussed localization projects in urban rail systems, the increasing capacity needs in urban rail systems, long-term demand projections, problems encountered in urban transportation, and expectations regarding the solutions to these problems.
The 4th panel on the Domestic Production Ecosystem in Rail System Vehicles, moderated by UITP Eurasia President Dr. Feyzullah GÜNDOĞDU, included:
Mr. Emrah DAL / CTO, Bozankaya Rail Systems Inc.,
Dr. Tolgahan KAYA / Institute Director – TÜBİTAK RUTE,
Mr. Ahmet Muaz Ateş / UGES Sector Program Director – Aselsan Inc.,
Mr. Yunus UĞURLU / Head of Locomotive Department – TÜRASAŞ
Mr. Fatih GÜLTEKİN / Deputy General Manager, Tram34 – Metro İstanbul Inc.,
He participated as a panelist. The panel discussed domestic and national production, the national rail systems produced, and the national signaling system. The E5000 locomotive, the electric high-speed train with a speed of 160 km/h, the electric high-speed train with a speed of 225 km/h, national trams, the driverless national metro vehicle, the national signaling system, and national freight wagons were presented. Information was given about the investments made and those planned.
We thank all representatives of the Turkish railway industry and all relevant institutions and organizations for their support in strengthening local cooperation.
