Türkiye has unveiled a significant extension to its high-speed railway network, linking Çerkezköy, west of Istanbul, to Kapıkule on the Bulgarian border. This 153-kilometer section, inaugurated in the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, represents the longest stretch of the 229-kilometer Halkalı-Kapıkule railway line that begins on Istanbul’s outskirts. The project marks a strategic effort to bolster Türkiye’s transport infrastructure and enhance trade connectivity with European markets.
The new railway section integrates the provinces of Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, and Edirne into the high-speed network, bringing the total number of provinces served to 14. This expansion includes new station facilities in Babaeski, Lüleburgaz, and Büyükkarıştıran, as well as upgrades to existing stations at Kapıkule and Edirne.
Equipped with electrified double tracks and advanced signaling systems, the line allows trains to reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. The improved infrastructure is expected to significantly reduce travel times, with passenger journeys between Halkalı and Kapıkule decreasing from four hours to approximately 1.5 hours, and freight transit times from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours. Consequently, annual passenger capacity is projected to rise from 600,000 to about three million, and freight capacity from 1.5 million to 9.5 million tonnes.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu emphasized that the railway will enhance transport links between Türkiye and the European Union, supporting the Middle Corridor trade route that connects Asia and Europe. The 153-kilometer section was jointly financed by Türkiye and the EU, while Türkiye’s Transport Ministry constructed the remaining 76 kilometers. This railway is part of the broader Trans-European Transport Network.
Beyond facilitating smoother trade with Europe, the line is expected to improve connections between European markets and industrial hubs in Istanbul, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, and the surrounding Thrace region, including nearby ports. President Erdoğan highlighted the government’s commitment to further expanding the country’s railway network, which currently spans 13,919 kilometers, with plans to reach 28,590 kilometers by 2053. This expansion is a critical component of Türkiye’s long-term strategy to enhance logistics and international trade, strengthening ties between Europe and Asia.