TOG is a comprehensive traffic management application developed for the Turkish State Railways (TCDD). The platform streamlines traffic operations, capacity planning, personnel management, and maintenance processes. Playing a critical role in managing railway infrastructure, TOG also coordinates train service requests and operations from transportation companies that use the infrastructure for a fee.

Digitizing core operational processes of a nearly 200-year-old traditional institution

Significantly reducing human error through digital systems, which caused concern among some stakeholders

Concerns over increased central control leading to hesitancy

The sheer scale of the project resulted in skepticism and lack of belief in its success.

Resistance to change due to age and, in some cases, limited digital literacy among staff.

Potential bureaucratic obstacles and institutional inertia.

The ultimate goal of TOG is to provide Turkish Railways with a far more efficient, reliable, and competitive transportation infrastructure.

As a Product Designer at the Turkish Railways IT Department, I was responsible for overseeing the entire product lifecycle — from conceptual design to handover to the development team — and later evaluating user feedback after delivery.

Breaking the project into independent MVPs (Minimum Viable Products) to ensure better manageability and progress

Managing the analysis, design, and testing phases of each MVP

Providing support during the integration of MVPs and collecting user feedback for continuous improvement

Although the idea of digital transformation had been discussed for years, the official project kicked off in 2023 when the Traffic and Station Management Department formally requested the IT Department to begin development.

Where do we begin?

How should we define and prioritize the MVP process?

What is our ultimate vision?

How might bureaucratic resistance or regional reluctance impact progress?

Is the IT Department equipped to handle a transformation of this magnitude?

Ultimately, it was agreed that dividing the project into smaller, manageable MVPs would be the most effective path forward. This approach also helped alleviate doubts about the IT Department’s capacity to deliver.

The application was divided into three core modules:

Traffic Management

Shift management for infrastructure personnel

Database creation for infrastructure and operator vehicles

Real-time train traffic management

Train Operator (DTİ) Management

Management of DTİ vehicles "

Personnel management

Operational inspections

Infrastructure & System Setup

Annual train requests

Traffic simulation

Billing

AI-supported smart traffic management

The first phase is scheduled for delivery in 2025.

Due to the nature of the system, TOG integrates with numerous internal and external systems. These include Turkish government platforms such as the Presidency, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Revenue Administration, as well as enterprise tools like SAP.

Our team held extensive meetings with the representatives of these platforms to ensure successful data exchange and requirement alignment.

TOG’s design was more visually refined than what is typically expected from ERP software. This was a strategic decision — showcasing a modern, professional interface was key to gaining stakeholder buy-in. A technically excellent system that looks outdated or clunky may not survive.

Design elements like shadows, opacity, and blur — rarely used in large-scale enterprise software — were extensively applied. The interface was built using

Tailwind CSS-based components, which also accelerated the development process.

Stakeholder engagement is crucial from the beginning, especially in long-standing bureaucratic institutions.

Breaking down a large transformation into manageable MVPs creates focus, builds internal confidence, and allows for iterative improvements.

UI/UX design matters deeply, even in highly technical systems — it impacts user perception, adoption, and longevity of the product.

Cross-department collaboration and external system integration require ongoing communication and flexibility.

Building trust in the IT department’s capability was just as critical as delivering a functional application.

TOG has played a pivotal role in the digital transformation of TCDD, delivering a more efficient and streamlined railway infrastructure management system.