The Halkalı-Kapıkule Railway Line project is the largest infrastructure project to be held during IPA II period by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure within the framework of European Union-Turkey financial cooperation.
IPA fund allocated to the project is approximately 8% of the total fund allocated to our country and approximately 74% of the fund allocated to the transport sector during IPA II period.
In addition to its budgetary size and technical features, , the Halkalı-Kapıkule railway line project symbolizes the geographical connection of Turkey to the EU with its route from our country’s Bulgarian border to İstanbul. The development of lines connecting the EU and Turkey directly has strategic importance for both sides. Besides, it is also specifically important that the project will provide the EU – Turkey – Asia railway network in line with the TEN-T corridors.
The project consists of three sections: Halkalı-Ispartakule, Ispartakule-Çerkezköy and Çerkezköy-Kapıkule. The construction of 155 km Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section of the project will be carried out with the co-financing of the European Union and our country and in total 275 million Euro EU funds will be used. Other 76 km sections will be constructed simultaneously by the Directorate General of TCDD with national budget.
With the completion of the project, on the 231 km route between Halkalı-Kapıkule; a double track, with a speed of 200 km/hr, targeting passenger and freight transport high-speed rail line will be constructed.
The tender for the construction of the Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section of the project, to be co-financed by the EU fund, has been completed and the contract signature ceremony was held at the Ankara Hotel Karadeniz Hall at 11:00 on June 11, 2019 with the participation of Mr. Mehmet Cahit Turhan, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, and Ambassador Mr. Christian Berger, Head of EU Delegation to Turkey.