Turkey's Transport Minister Announces Istanbul Metro Launch and New Railway Initiatives

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the 21.75‑kilometre Halkalı‑Arnavutköy metro segment in Istanbul is ready for service and will open on 19 June, with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan attending the ceremony. The line will link to existing metro routes at Vezneciler‑Sultangazi‑Fenertepe, Bakırköy‑Kirazlı‑Başakşehir‑Kayaşehir, Ataköy‑İkitelli‑Olimpiyat, Kabataş‑Mecidiyeköy‑Mahmutbey‑Bahçeşehir‑Esenyurt and Halkalı stations, and will connect with the Marmaray, cutting travel time between Halkalı and Istanbul Airport to about 30 minutes.

In the same briefing, Uraloğlu highlighted Turkey's broader rail ambitions, citing the Modern Hicaz Railway project with work planned in Jordan and Syria, and a double‑track Marmaray alternative crossing the Bosphorus. He noted that Turkey has launched $355 billion worth of transport and communications projects in 2023‑24, expanded its road network to 30,050 km, and aims to reach a 17,500‑km railway network by 2028, supported by a $6.75 billion World Bank‑led loan.

These announcements underscore Turkey's push to modernise its transport infrastructure and position the country as a regional logistics hub.