By: AGBI

Turkey reportedly plans to issue a tender for a high-capacity rail line connecting Asia and Europe before the year-end.

The Northern Railway Crossing project will span 126km, providing freight and passenger services, the Daily Sabah newspaper reported, quoting transport and infrastructure minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.

The double-track electrified line will also alleviate congestion in Istanbul by linking Çayırova district to Sabiha Gökçen airport on Istanbul’s Asian side while extending to Istanbul Airport and Çatalca on the European side, the report said.

“The project is a strategic infrastructure initiative to establish a railway link capable of handling heavy cargo transportation,” the minister was quoted as saying.

The project is estimated to cost $4 billion, the report said.

In October 2024 the minister said Anakra was close to an agreement with the World Bank for as much as $3 billion in funding for the project.

Last month Uraloğlu announced that Turkey, Syria and Jordan would work together to return the historic Hejaz railway to full operational status.