Türkiye has launched a significant expansion of its high-speed rail network by opening a 153-kilometer section from Çerkezköy to Kapıkule at the Bulgarian border, enhancing the country’s connectivity with the European Union. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, along with EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, inaugurated the new railway line in Kırklareli province, marking a substantial step toward bolstering Türkiye’s transport infrastructure and economic ties with Europe.
The newly inaugurated section is part of the broader 229-kilometer Halkalı-Kapıkule railway line, beginning on the outskirts of Istanbul. This project aims to facilitate Türkiye’s ambition to improve access to European markets, as Erdoğan emphasized its potential to boost production, employment, trade, and tourism. The line is also expected to play a crucial role in supporting the Middle Corridor trade route, which links Asia and Europe through Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Türkiye.
The new railway section integrates the provinces of Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, and Edirne into Türkiye’s high-speed network, bringing the total number of provinces served to 14. Facilities include new station buildings at Babaeski, Lüleburgaz, and Büyükkarıştıran, alongside the reconstruction of stations in Kapıkule and Edirne.
Equipped with electrification and signaling systems, the double-track railway allows trains to reach speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour. This upgrade is expected to cut passenger travel time between Halkalı and Kapıkule from four hours to approximately 1.5 hours, while freight transit time will reduce from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours. Annual passenger capacity is projected to rise from 600,000 to three million, with freight capacity increasing from 1.5 million to 9.5 million tonnes.
Türkiye’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that the railway would significantly improve transport links between Türkiye and the EU. Jointly financed by Türkiye and the EU, this section is part of the Trans-European Transport Network, aiming to enhance connections between European markets and industrial centers in Istanbul, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ, and the wider Thrace region.
As part of its long-term strategy to strengthen logistics and international trade, Türkiye plans to expand its railway network from the current 13,919 kilometers to 28,590 kilometers by 2053. This investment is seen as a critical component of Türkiye’s efforts to enhance connections between Europe and Asia.