Intercity Train Travel Restarts in Turkey Amid Normalization

* Photo & news: Anadolu Agency (AA)

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Suspended due to novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in late March, the high-speed intercity train travel started again today (May 28).

Speaking at the the ceremony in Ankara High-Speed Train (YHT) Station, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu has announced that 16 train services in total will be offered a day, namely one service in the morning and one in the evening between Ankara-İstanbul, Ankara-Eskişehir, Ankara- Konya and Konya-İstanbul.

Calling the restart of intercity train travel as "an important step in normalization process," Minister has also noted that though the trains will run at 50 percent capacity, ticket prices will stay the same.

With the resumed service, masks, social distancing, and hygiene are all indispensable for the "new normal," so wearing a mask at all stations and trains will be mandatory, he has explained further. He has also emphasized that Turkey will start service with its domestic-made electric train as soon as possible.

'Tickets will be sold with an HES code'

Minister Karaismailoğlu has noted that there are also some liabilities to be fulfilled by citizens in this process and informed that "they will be requested to present a valid HES Code and a travel permit to be able to buy a ticket."

In a statement on May 20, the Ministry of Health previously announced that "it would use a mobile application to track the intercity travels to prevent the spread of COVID-19" amid normalization steps.

Downloading and using the app "Life Fits into Home" (Hayat Eve Sığar, abbreviated as HES), the citizens would use the code from the app to show that they were not sick or carrying the virus and be able to board planes and trains within Turkey, the Ministry stated further.

'No food or buffet services in trains'

Speaking further at the ceremony in Ankara, Minister of Transportation Karaismailoğlu has also announced that as part of COVID-19 measures no food or buffet services will be offered in the intercity trains.

In addition to these measures, all personnel working in the stations and trains will be ensured to serve in suitable conditions to the outbreak and the trains will be cleaned and disinfected in detail before service, Minister Karaismailoğlu has added further. (HA/SD)