Halkali-Kapikule high-speed railway line, Turkey

The new 153km Halkali-Kapikule high-speed railway line will make it possible to travel between the European countries of Turkey, where most of Istanbul's major attractions are located, and neighbouring Bulgaria.

The line is part of the Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), the integrated transport system of the countries of the European Union, and is part of the wider North-South/East European railway corridor (Orient/East-Mediterranean Corridor) linking Central Europe with ports on the North, Baltic, Black and Mediterranean Seas.

From Halkali to Kapikule, the line is double tracked, allowing speeds of up to 200 km/h. The project also included the necessary civil engineering works for travellers and workers, as well as signalling and electrification systems.

The work - commissioned by the General Directorate of the Turkish State Railways - aims to develop the region by improving safety levels and ensuring fast and efficient rail travel.

On 25 September 2019, the foundation stone will be laid in Edirne, in the presence of the Turkish Minister of Transport and the EU Ambassador to Turkey. A symbolic gesture that represents an important opportunity for progress and innovation.