High-speed train service canceled again after crane falls on railway

The high-speed railway (YHT) service between Kocaeli and Ankara was canceled after a crane and a container fell onto the railway line late Aug. 7.

Due to strong winds, a crane – approximately weighing 200 tons – fell onto the railway line used by the YHT service in the Körfez district of Kocaeli, resulting in the suspension of the YHT service at 5:00 p.m. on Aug. 7.

The Turkish state railways (TCDD) authority has organized replacement busses between Pendik and Sakarya for the passengers who had purchased tickets for the YHT.

The incident occurred after a tornado hit the district, causing a crane, belonging to the Marmara shipyard, and a heavy container to fall onto the railway line.  

The TCDD learned of the incident after they were contacted by a high-speed train that was travelling on the same line where the accident took place. After the local authorities were unable to remove the crane, the train’s passengers were sent to a train station in the Arifiye district of the province of Sakarya.

Officials from the TCDD decided to cut the crane after they failed to remove it from the railway line, claiming the YHT service – between Kocaeli and Ankara – would be canceled for some time until the crane had been removed and damage caused by the crane to the energy and railway lines had been repaired.