Özet:

Since the mid-19th century, railways have come to the forefront as the most important means of transportation, first in Europe and then almost everywhere in the world. The first railway construction works in the Ottoman Empire started in the 1850s and most of these roads were built with concessions granted to foreign companies. The railroads established in line with the political and economic ambitions of foreign states were mostly built in the western regions of the country, while the Black Sea region, Central Anatolia and Eastern Anatolia regions were neglected. In addition, the lack of railroads in these regions was seen as a deficiency during the First World War and the War of Independence. Considering all these, a special importance was given to the road policy in the Republican period and an integrity was tried to be established between the east and the west of the country. The most important goal of Atatürk's railway policy was to build railways with national capital and to nationalize the railways owned by foreign companies by purchasing them. In line with this goal, an intensive construction and procurement process was undertaken in the early years of the Republic to expand the railroad network in a short period of time. With the railroads built in the Black Sea region, the rich agricultural products, mines and many other riches of the region found the opportunity to be transported to the interior, west and east. The aim of this study is to examine the railway policies implemented between 1923 and 1938 through the Black Sea region and to reveal the construction processes of the railways and their effects on the country.