Istanbul–Edirne Train in 1.5 Hours After New Rail Tests Begin
🚄 Turkey: Istanbul – Edirne in 1.5 Hours
Turkey has started test runs on the Halkalı – Kapıkule high-speed railway project, a major infrastructure development aimed at significantly improving transport connections between Istanbul, Edirne, and Europe.
📍 What Will Change
The new railway line is expected to bring substantial improvements in both passenger and freight transportation efficiency.
- Istanbul → Edirne travel time will decrease from 4 hours to 1.5 hours
- Freight transportation time will be reduced from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours
🛤 About the Project
The Halkalı – Kapıkule railway is a strategic transport corridor designed to strengthen Turkey’s connection with Europe and enhance regional logistics capacity.
- High-speed trains reaching up to 200 km/h
- Modernized double-track electrified railway system
- Improved infrastructure for both passenger and cargo transport
📊 Route Structure
- Kapıkule – Çerkezköy (153 km)
- Çerkezköy – Ispartakule (67 km)
- Ispartakule – Halkalı (8.4 km)
🌍 Strategic Importance
The project is expected to become a key transport corridor between Turkey and Europe, significantly strengthening the country’s role in international logistics and improving cross-border connectivity.
The Halkalı – Kapıkule railway is considered one of the most important infrastructure investments in Turkey’s modern transport development strategy.
