Osmanlı Demiryolu Politikasına Bir Bakış

After the middle of 19. Century, railroads developed into a new and revolutionary transportation system ,Ottoman rulers also considered this new technology, on a way of solving the transportation problem of the country. However , at the time the state of Ottoman did not have the financial and economical structures which will support such a transportation system. Consequently the building and management rights of railroad system were given to foreign companies. As a result of this policy , the development of Ottoman railroads were stuggeret by not Ottoman national interest but by the economical, political and even military interests of foreign imperialistic countries. These foreign countries were in significant conflicts and competition with each other at the time. Another factor, which influenced the Ottoman railroad policy, was the foreign debts of Ottoman State. When Ottoman State borrowed fromey from foreign state on companies usually granted a special priority to that country on company in building and management of railroads. Even though the construction of railroads started with Tanzimat, the most significant developments appeared after Duyunu – Umumiye. Over all Ottoman railroad policy was shoped by military , political and strategial factors. Consequently a railroad network not connected properly and extending from the part cities into the Country as a branching tree was developed. In this development, foreign interests had played as much role as Ottoman national interests.