TCDD and Körfez Ulaştırma Partner in Level Crossing Safety Awareness Project
Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and Körfez Ulaştırma, a Tüpraş affiliate in rail transport, partnered to implement TCDD’s Level Crossing Safety Awareness Project. The Project will include railroad safety training for primary school students in areas near railway lines.
Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and Körfez Ulaştırma have entered a new partnership to raise railroad safety awareness and prevent accidents at level crossings.
TCDD’s “Level Crossing Safety Awareness Project” has been in practice since 2022 across various cities in Türkiye. Now sponsored by Körfez Ulaştırma, the project will initially reach 10,000 students in 12 primary schools located along the Diyarbakır–Bismil–Batman railway line.
The project launched in Batman on June 12 coincided with International Level Crossing Awareness Day (ILCAD), celebrated each year in June. The opening ceremony took place at the Batman Adem İlkkılıç Primary School and welcomed Yaşar Ciğer, Batman Provincial Director of National Education; Cüneyt Türkkuşu, Head of TCDD Training Department; Özen Şener, Körfez Ulaştırma General Manager; Ahmet Cemil Karaoğuz, Tüpraş Batman Refinery Manager; and Çiler Teber, Tüpraş Corporate Communications Director.
TCDD Training Department Head Cüneyt Türkkuşu commented: “Drivers and pedestrians who disregard the rules at level crossings, where railway lines and roads intersect, can cause tragic accidents. To help prevent such incidents, we launched a project in 2022. The project aims to reach all schools located near railway lines throughout the country. We organize events at schools to raise awareness about railroad and level crossing safety. The students’ enthusiasm for trains is truly delightful. TCDD aims to minimize accidents by improving level crossings and launching similar awareness campaigns. It is our duty to instill a sense of responsibility and awareness in our students, who are our future, and to encourage positive behavior.”
Körfez Ulaştırma General Manager Şener: Ensuring Railroad Safety Is Our Shared Responsibility During his speech at the event, Körfez Ulaştırma General Manager Özen Şener emphasized that ensuring railroad safety is a shared responsibility across society. He added: “Körfez Ulaştırma is the first private railway operator in Türkiye and has been running continuous transport operations across railroads in the country.
Safety and security are our top priorities throughout all operations, and we see it as our corporate responsibility to raise public awareness on this issue. Accidents at level crossings often have severe consequences. As part of our partnership with TCDD, we are sponsoring educational initiatives that will initially reach 10,000 students. The training sessions will be conducted by TCDD trainers and will target not only children but also their families and communities to raise awareness on a broader scale. When instilled at an early age, safety awareness lays the foundation for a safer transportation culture in the future. Empowered and equipped through education, our children will play a key role in preventing accidents at level crossings.”
The first stage of the Level Crossing Safety Awareness Project will include schools near the level crossings along the busy Batman, Diyarbakır, and Bismil railway line. Launched on June 12, the project will reach 10,000 students in 12 schools along the route during the 2025–2026 academic year.
Level Crossing Training Through Play The training program, developed by TCDD, covers safe crossing rules for level crossings, railroad safety, and general traffic regulations. At the level crossings drawn on the ground, students role-play as trains and cars, wearing the appropriate masks to demonstrate the importance of safety through plays and songs.
Special Training Kits for Students Students participating in the project receive a special training kit that includes a pencil case, two coloring books, a six-pack of colored pencils, a custom pinback button, an eraser, and a mask. This kit is designed to help students reinforce the course material.