The successful journey of a passenger train from Iraq to Turkey through Syria has marked the reopening of the line after a 30-year hiatus and symbolizes hopes for increased economic cooperation between the three nations.
Thirteen people were aboard the train, which began its journey in Mosul, when it stopped in Mardin, where a welcoming ceremony was organized at the Nusaybin Railway Station. Passengers disembarking were pleased with the train journey, saying it was not marred by any of the many inconveniences presented by international bus travel. Passengers aren't the only ones happy about the train line, though.
The railroad is of great symbolic importance to the relations between Turkey and Iraq as well as Syria.
Speaking at the arrival ceremony in Mardin, Nusaybin District Governor Yücel Gemici said the opening of the train line was an important step for Iraqi-Turkish bilateral relations. “The train will further strengthen the ties between the people of the two countries. It will make important contributions both socially and economically speaking. This train will lessen the distance between two already close, brother peoples,” he said.
Nusaybin Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Mahsun Özmen said that trade between Iraq and Turkey would be boosted by the passenger train line’s reopening, expressing pleasure over the development on behalf of regional businesspeople.
The trade volume between Turkey and the autonomous regional administration in northern Iraq amounts to an annual $10 billion, with 80 percent of goods sold in the region originating from Turkey. Turkey is revitalizing its plans to introduce high-speed trains in the region, with Iraq also planning major investments in its railroad system. Turkey’s new goal is to bring to life a new railroad upon which a high-speed train will travel from Turkey through Iraq all the way to Pakistan.
Many locals and NGO representatives were also present at the ceremony, after which the train departed to continue its journey to Gaziantep. Wars and civil unrest in Iraq have taken a heavy toll on the nation’s railroads for the past 30 years, with no regular train travel to neighboring Syria or Turkey since the 1980s.
Passengers praise convenience of train line
The train departed from Mosul at noon on Tuesday and reached its final destination of Gaziantep Train Station at 8:30 a.m. after entering Turkey and stopping at the train station and customs checkpoint in Mardin’s Nusaybin district. The entire trip from Mosul to Gaziantep took about 17 hours. Passengers were delighted with the journey and the convenience it would offer them in traveling back and forth between Turkey and Iraq to visit family members.
Iraqi national Sabira Er was among the train’s passengers, along with her daughters Lara and Hediye. Er resides in Mardin with her Turkish husband and expressed satisfaction with the train trip. “Train travel is much more comfortable when compared to traveling by car. I’m married and live in Mardin; schools went into session last week, and my children had to come back to go to classes. But I heard that a train line would be starting up, and so I waited. Because the train has beds, it was very comfortable for my kids. Now, I’ll be able to travel back and forth between here and my relatives in Iraq easily,” she said.
A large crowd welcomed the train when it arrived in Gaziantep and a reception ceremony was held with the participation of Gaziantep Governor Süleyman Kamçı, Gaziantep Mayor Asım Güzelbey, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) General Manager Süleyman Karaman, Sanko Holding Executive Board President Abdulkadir Konukoğlu and a large number of onlookers. The passengers disembarking from the train were met with flowers, and said they had had a comfortable journey. Iraqi passenger Nadia Aydın traveled from Mosul to Gaziantep with her children and said it was a very easy trip compared to other forms of travel. “We used to have to take three different buses to get to our home in Gaziantep. And the buses were constantly being stopped for visa checks. With the train, though, we had a comfortable trip; my two daughters and I traveled in a sleeper car,” she said.
18.02.2010
TODAY’S ZAMAN
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