To eliminate Bosphorus bottlenecks and speed up transit, Turkey is overhauling its western railway infrastructure. The route is double-tracked, electrified, and designed to support passenger trains up to 200 km/h and mixed-use freight.

Description

The Istanbul–Kapıkule railway serves as the vital European gateway for the Trans-Caspian Middle Corridor. It connects the Halkali station in Istanbul to the Kapıkule railway station at the Turkish-Bulgarian border. It bypasses Russia and Iran by linking China and Central Asia to Europe via Turkey. It is the western leg of the Edirne-Kars High Speed Train and Connections Railway Project.