In 1985, at the age of 18, I had my first job on the Iskenderun-Divriği signalling project. The system was the ISKRA system SpDrL30. I started working for TEKFEN on the construction of this system. I was involved in all technical aspects of the project, including trench digging, cable laying, cable testing, and cable splicing. After the project was accepted by TCDD (Turkish State Railways), I was called back and joined the organization.

For 32 years, I worked on different kinds of fault repairs and maintenance for the ISKRA signalling system. While working, I was also involved in controlling the Ansaldo system. After retirement, I worked on many projects. I worked on the Gaziray project (Thales), the Izmir Narlıdere metro (Siemens), the Çerkezköy-Kapıkule project (CAF-Thales), and various domestic signalling projects.

I don’t know, maybe I’m old-fashioned, traditional. I’ve seen the latest systems we’ve installed and seen completely digital signalling systems, but I haven’t seen a system as safe, useful, practical, and reassuring as the ISKRA SpDrL30 signalling system. Don’t misunderstand me, I’m not implying that other systems are bad or unusable; they certainly have their own strengths. As a retired railway worker who has dedicated time to these systems, I’m expressing my opinion. The relay system, in addition to digital protection, gives me the feeling of providing physical protection. In the ISKRA signalling system, all information enters the system after being filtered through at least two or more relay contacts. The probability of the information being incorrect is so low that it wouldn’t even occur to you.

The safety position information of the switches in the field is 100% accurate. Both mechanical and electrical interlocking systems leave no room for error.

For a signal to clear, the ISKRA device allows all equipment units at that station to open individually via relays; at the moment of a signal clearing, more than 100 relays are activated under control.

If you can perform local control at every station, as is the case with current systems, local control is not possible at the sidings.

The Panorama view in the CTC is a masterpiece in my opinion. You can follow the entire system very clearly and distinctly. It doesn’t cause any eye strain. As you know, substations today use LED screens that are neither aesthetically pleasing nor easy on the eyes.

For conventional railway lines, the ISKRA SpDrL30 signalling system is very useful.