International Financing for Pivotal Rail Corridor
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has announced a preliminary agreement for $6.75 billion in financing from six international financial institutions for the North Ring Railway Project, which will traverse the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge.
The project, covering the route from Gebze through Sabiha Gökçen Airport, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, Istanbul Airport, and Halkalı, represents Turkey’s largest externally financed railway initiative to date. The agreement was reached with the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, OPEC Fund for International Development, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Project Scope and Strategic Importance
Route and Integration
According to Minister Uraloğlu, the new line will start from the Marmaray line’s Çayırova section, pass through Sabiha Gökçen Airport, cross the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, and reach Istanbul Airport before connecting to Çatalca. Here, it will integrate with the under-construction Halkalı–Çerkezköy High-Speed Train Line. This strategic corridor is expected to ease passenger and freight traffic on the Marmaray line and, for the first time, directly link Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport by rail.
Technical Details and Logistics Impact
The 125-kilometre railway will include 44 tunnels spanning 59.1 kilometres and 42 bridges with a combined length of 22.4 kilometres. Once operational, the line is anticipated to handle up to 33 million passengers and 30 million tonnes of freight annually, significantly enhancing Turkey’s capacity for rail transport between Asia and Europe.
Tender Process and Project Timeline
The Ministry is currently preparing for the project’s construction tender, with the aim to complete the tender process and begin work within the year.
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