Istanbul Northern Ring Railway Project (INRAIL)

The Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project ("INRAIL") is a strategic infrastructure initiative aimed at establishing a high-capacity rail connection suitable for heavy freight transport that links the European and Asian sides of Istanbul. Planned to address a critical gap existing in the national railway network, this project aims to strengthen Turkey's intercontinental railway connections and significantly increase logistics efficiency across the country. Within the scope of the project, a new (greenfield) double-track railway line approximately 127 kilometers in length, independent of existing infrastructure, will be constructed. The full electrification of the line and the installation of advanced technology signaling systems are also included in the project. The route of the railway line starts from Çayırova Station located on the Asian side, passes over the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, and terminates at Çatalca Station on the European side. There is a pre-allocated area for railway transit on the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. Additionally, within the scope of the project, high-standard railway connections will be provided to Istanbul Airport on the European side and Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side, which are Turkey's two airports with the highest air traffic. Project studies have been completed, and approval has been obtained from the Ministry of Treasury and Finance to conduct a tender for external financing. Loan agreements were signed with the World Bank (IBRD) on April 14, 2026, and with the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) on June 25, 2026, and negotiations are ongoing with other international financial institutions that will provide financing. The tender announcement for construction was issued on July 21, 2026.