Impact of the COVID-19 and Russian-Ukrainian War on Rail Freight Transportation – Analysis of Turkiye

Abstract

Over the last two decades, global supply chain management has introduced many innovations to minimize costs and to create lean supply chains with faster, more reliable, and more flexible transportation services. However, though leaner supply chains are cost-effective, they are more vulnerable to external risks. Unexpected events such as economic crises, natural disasters, political and cyber security events, and epidemics endanger the functioning of transportation modes and increase the risk in the journey of goods in the supply chain from the first supplier to the final customer. Therefore, the relationship and balance between economic efficiency and resilience are vital in supply chain performance.This article aims to analyse the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine War on Turkiye and the Middle Corridor by putting forth the steps the rail industry must take to serve better in future crises and to increase rail competitiveness and resilience. © 2025 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.