The General Assembly of Edirne Province announced that tendering of first works for the future Istanbul – Edirne high-speed railway will be launched in 2018. The project was also debated by the Parliament in Ankara during the meeting of 2 September.
A report of the European Union and of the Commission for Foreign Relations stipulates that the railway, developed on Halkalı – Kapıkule route, will allow trains to run at 200 km/h, thus providing connection between Edirne and Istanbul in 1h 35min.
“At the beginning of 2018, we will launch tenders for the first sections, Halkali – Çerkezköy and Çerkezköy – Kapıkule (near the Bulgarian border), of Istanbul – Edirne high-speed railway. Works will take three years after the attribution of the contract and tests on the railway will take another six months, until official inauguration”, declared Özcan Soyupak, President of the Commission for Foreign Relations.
Çerkezköy – Kapıkule section will be built with the support of funds from the European Union, Halkalı – Ispartakule section will use funds from Turkish Railway Company (TCDD), while funds for Ispartakule – Çerkezköy section will come from the state budget. The project is estimated at TRY 2.75 billion (EUR 670 million). Six viaducts will be built, 23 bridges, 2 rail tunnels and 7 new rail stations.
“We believe the project is very positive for Edirne, especially from commercial, touristic and transport development points of view”, declared Recep Gürkan, Mayor of Edirne.
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