Apaydin is a metallurgical engineering graduate from Istanbul Technical University and has a masters degree in metallurgical engineering from Sakarya University. He joined TCDD as an engineer in 1987.

Apaydin served as deputy director general and TCDD board member between 2005 and 2015 before being assigned as an advisor to the ministry of transport.

During his tenure as deputy director general, Apaydin was involved in several initiatives such as the National Train Project, improving training and research and development, the construction and commissioning of high-speed lines, the establishment of a domestic railway industry, and setting up the Raytest Certification Centre in Turkey.
Apaydin has held the following senior positions during his railway career:

  • National Train Project execution group administrator
  • member of the general assembly of the European Railway Research Council, and
  • vice-chairman of the Anatolian Railway Transportation Systems Cluster (Arus).