Türkiye has inaugurated a significant 153-kilometer section of high-speed railway connecting Çerkezköy, located west of Istanbul, to Kapıkule on the Bulgarian border, marking a substantial extension of the country’s rail network toward the European Union. This newly opened section forms the longest stretch of the 229-kilometer Halkalı-Kapıkule railway line, which begins on the outskirts of Istanbul. The inauguration ceremony in Kırklareli province was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos.
The railway project is set to enhance Türkiye’s transport infrastructure, facilitating better access to European markets and supporting the nation’s export ambitions. According to Erdoğan, the high-speed rail will drive production, employment, trade, and tourism. The new rail segment integrates Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, and Edirne into Türkiye’s high-speed rail network, increasing the total number of provinces served to 14. As part of the project, new station buildings have been constructed in Babaeski, Lüleburgaz, and Büyükkarıştıran, with existing stations at Kapıkule and Edirne also being reconstructed.
The double-track railway is electrified and equipped with modern signaling systems, allowing trains to reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. This will significantly reduce passenger travel time between Halkalı and Kapıkule from four hours to approximately 1.5 hours, while freight transit times are expected to decrease from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours. The annual passenger capacity is projected to rise from 600,000 to around three million, and freight capacity is anticipated to increase from 1.5 million to 9.5 million tonnes.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu emphasized that the railway strengthens transport links between Türkiye and the European Union. The project is also integral to the Middle Corridor, a pivotal trade route connecting Asia and Europe via Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Türkiye. Jointly financed by Türkiye and the EU, the 153-kilometer section complements the remaining 76 kilometers constructed by Türkiye’s Transport Ministry as part of the Trans-European Transport Network.
The new rail line aims to enhance connectivity between European markets and industrial centers in Istanbul, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, and the broader Thrace region, along with nearby ports. Looking ahead, Türkiye plans further expansions of its railway network, which currently extends to 13,919 kilometers, including 7,274 kilometers of electrified lines. Construction is ongoing for an additional 4,858 kilometers, with the country’s long-term goal set at expanding the network to 28,590 kilometers by 2053. This ambitious expansion is viewed as a strategic element to bolster logistics, international trade, and connectivity between Europe and Asia.