The ports of Alsancak and Aliağa in the İzmir region of Turkey are among the busiest cargo traffic centers in Turkey. However, the utilization rate of rail transport for inland shipments remains significantly low.
This situation has an important logistical implication: the “in-dock rail and overweight charge” risks observed in the United States are quite limited in Turkey. The majority of cargo arriving at the ports is still transported via road, and the rail infrastructure has not yet become a fundamental part of port operations.
Advantages and disadvantages
The limited use of rail transport presents both advantages and disadvantages for shipping. Among the advantages is the fact that, unlike in the U.S., the “overweight handling and overweight drayage” charges that arise when cargo exceeds legal weight on in-port rail ramps are almost nonexistent in Turkey. This is due to the fact that overweight inspections are conducted not by the ports, but by the Regional Directorates of Highways, with controls taking place at road exit points rather than within the rail processes at the ports.
However, this situation also brings about a disadvantage: despite being significantly more economical and environmentally friendly than road transport, rail transport is not sufficiently utilized in the connections between the ports and the inland hinterland in İzmir.
Many large-scale “port-rail integration” projects planned years ago in Turkey have not been realized. Particularly, the modernization of rail capacity has not been possible due to the location of the Port of Alsancak within the city. Although there is a rail line in the Aliağa region, demand for container transport remains low. The primary reasons for this include logistics companies preferring the flexibility of road transport, the lack of rail connections for some factories, and the limited number of rail operators in the domestic market.
A strategic loss over the long term
In conclusion, while the low risk of overweight charges at İzmir ports may appear to reduce logistics costs in the short term, it signals a strategic loss in the long term. The low utilization rate of rail transport leads to missed cost advantages in both port operations and national logistics. Effectively integrating Turkey’s rail infrastructure with its ports will yield significant environmental and economic benefits. Specifically, in İzmir, increasing rail usage along the Alsancak–Aliağa–inland hinterland route will make the flow of commercial cargo more efficient and sustainable.
