AN ANALYSIS OF THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF THE KARKAMIŞ TRAIN STATION

Abstract

Karkamış Train Station, located at the intersection of Istanbul - Baghdad - Hejaz railway network, has witnessed many important events historically. The station defined the state border as a station of the Çobanbey – Nusaybin railway line, which determined the Syria – Turkey border line with the Ankara Agreement signed during the Turkish War of Independence after the First World War. In the following period, the station was adversely affected by the unstable situation of the Middle East since the 1980s, and international train services were constantly interrupted. The civil war that broke out in Syria in 2011 also stopped the Iraq voyages due to the structure of the railway line where the station is located, and caused the Karkamış Train Station to be used only for domestic train services. Conservation status problems have arisen at the station, whose usage has decreased significantly. In this study, a research based on SWOT Analysis was conducted and evaluations were made for the protection status of Karkamış Train Station. It has been determined that the factors that negatively affect the station’s protection status are due to the unstable situation in the Middle East. It has been seen that the station’s proximity to two important attraction points such as Karkamış Ancient City and Karkamış Border Gate, and in recent years, maintenance, repair and renovation works on the railway line where the station is located are important opportunities for the station. It has been concluded that if the ongoing Syrian Civil War comes to an end, the station may reflect its geopolitical importance and become an attractive stop and an important destination for international cultural visitors.