Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section of Halkalı-Kapıkule High Speed ​​Train Line opens on October 9

Uraloğlu gave information about the line in question in his written statement.

Uraloğlu stated that the 153-kilometer Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section, which constitutes the longest stage of the Halkalı-Kapıkule High Speed ​​Train Line, one of Türkiye's important railway connections to Europe, will be put into service on October 9 with the presence of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and thus the high-speed train network will reach Kapıkule and the European border.

Uraloğlu stated that the work on the Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section of the line has been completed and that this section will provide both passenger and freight transportation services.

Pointing out that the line was built in accordance with an operating speed of 200 kilometers per hour, Uraloğlu said, "With the commissioning of our line, we will include Tekirdağ, Kırklareli and Edirne in our high-speed train network and bring Thrace to the comfort of high-speed trains. Within the scope of the project we built as double-track, electric and with Level-1 signals, 31 bridges, 8 cut-and-cover tunnels, 2 viaducts, 114 underpasses and overpasses and 175 railway lines." "We built a culvert and completed 353 kilometers of rail laying." made his assessment.

Travel time will be shorter

Pointing out that with the completion of the works, passenger travel time on the Halkalı-Kapıkule line will decrease from 4 hours to 1.5 hours, and freight transportation time from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours, Uraloğlu underlined that they will increase the current line capacity by 4 times, the annual passenger capacity will increase from 600 thousand to approximately 3 million, and the annual load capacity will increase from 1.5 million tons to 9.5 million tons.

Uraloğlu stated that the line will strengthen the access of organized industrial zones and ports to European markets, especially in Istanbul, Kocaeli, Tekirdağ and Thrace, and reminded that 86 percent of export transportation by rail in 2024 will be carried out through this corridor.

The project will further strengthen Türkiye's position in transportation corridors

Pointing out that Türkiye's European railway connection will be strengthened with the commissioning of the Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section, Uraloğlu said, "Our Halkalı-Kapıkule Line is the most critical gate to Europe of the Central Corridor, which connects Türkiye to the European railway network at high standards. We are strengthening the European connection of the railway chain, which starts with Baku-Tbilisi-Kars and connects Asia and Europe with Marmaray." he said.

Uraloğlu informed that the line is located at the western end of the Development Road, which will start from the Fav Port in Iraq and extend to Europe via Turkey.

Emphasizing that the project will further strengthen Türkiye's position in the international transportation corridors on the east-west and north-south axis, Uraloğlu stated that within the scope of the project, they built new station buildings in Babaeski, Lüleburgaz and Büyükkarıştıran, and rebuilt Kapıkule and Edirne station buildings.

With the capacity increase, waiting times at border crossings will be reduced

Uraloğlu stated that they will also realize the Çerkezköy Freight Station Personnel Building and Locomotive Maintenance Workshop in line with the project.

Stating that they will increase the number of roads in Kapıkule Station Site from 23 to 42 and the total line length from 14 thousand 840 meters to 29 thousand 680 meters, Uraloğlu stated that they will make the approximately 2.4 kilometer section between Kapıkule and the Bulgarian border double-tracked.

Uraloğlu stated that with the capacity increase, train acceptance and maneuverability will be increased in Kapıkule, customs and inspection procedures will be accelerated and waiting times at border crossings will be reduced.

Emphasizing that the work on other stages of the line continues, Uraloğlu said:

"We continue the construction work on the section that will connect Ispartakule to Halkalı with our Ispartakule-Çerkezköy stage. With the completion of all stages of the Halkalı-Kapıkule High Speed ​​Train Line, Türkiye's role in Europe-Asia railway transportation will be further strengthened."