Turkey inaugurates new high-speed rail link to Europe

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan inaugurated a new section of the high-speed railway line connecting Turkey to the European rail network. During the ceremony in Kırklareli province, Erdoğan personally piloted a test train on the route between Babaeski and Lüleburgaz.

The new 153-kilometer segment is part of the broader Halkali-Kapikule project, which is funded by the European Union. Once the entire project is completed, travel time from Istanbul to the Kapikule border crossing is expected to decrease from four hours to approximately one and a half hours. Freight transport times are also projected to drop from eight and a half hours to three and a half hours.

European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos attended the event. Erdoğan emphasized that the railway will serve as a vital artery, integrating Anatolian production with European markets and supporting Turkey’s export goals by connecting domestic industry directly to the single European market.