# Turkey Rail Expansion and Infrastructure Progress > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-highspeed-rail-expansion > Updated: 2026-08-17T06:42:37.000Z. Sources: 110. Developments: 24. Turkey’s transport network continues to expand through massive rail and infrastructure projects. Progress continues on the Ankara-İstanbul high-speed rail (YHT) upgrades; the completion of the 5,587-meter T26 tunnel and the Doğançay Ripajı-2 project is expected by early 2027. These works will significantly reduce travel times on the Alifuatpaşa-Arifiye segment, ultimately bringing the total Ankara-İstanbul journey to under four hours. In the southern region, the Mersin-Adana-Osmaniye-Gaziantep high-speed rail line is slated for full service by 2028. Construction is over 80% complete, with the Mersin-Adana section expected to finish by the end of 2026. This 361-km route aims to reduce travel time between Mersin and Gaziantep from 6 hours 23 minutes to approximately 2 hours 15 minutes, supporting speeds up to 200 km/h. In Kayseri, the Yerköy-Kayseri YHT project has reached 53% completion. The 142-km electrified line is targeted to open in the second half of 2028, which will reduce Ankara-Kayseri travel time to 1 hour 45 minutes. Additionally, the 3.5-km Ali İhsan Alçı Boulevard has been inaugurated to alleviate urban traffic. Ankara is also expanding its local rail capacity. A contract worth approximately 34.04 billion TRY was signed with Çelikler Taahhüt for the 8.5-km Ankara YHT Gar-Siteler rail line, which includes track construction and electromechanical systems. Furthermore, the 18.62-km Ankara M2-M3 Metro Connection Project has received Environmental Impact Assessment approval; this line is expected to serve over 3,000 passengers daily by 2030. Amidst these expansions, TCDD Taşımacılık AŞ has implemented fare increases. Following discussions regarding potential rises of 8.5% to 9%, new rates have been applied. On the Konya-Ankara route, prices rose by 12.7% to 485 TL, while the Konya-Istanbul route saw a 7.7% increase to 1460 TL. Other updated rates include Ankara-Istanbul at 990 TL and Ankara-Sivas at 1,001 TL. ## Claims - Travel time between Ankara and Kayseri will drop from about seven hours to one hour 45 minutes. (corroborated by 18 sources) - The line will have five stations: Yerköy, Şefaatli, Yenifakılı, Himmetdede and Kayseri. (corroborated by 16 sources) - Construction includes 22 tunnels totaling 20.5 km and 27 bridges totaling 6,608 m. (corroborated by 16 sources) - Physical progress of the Yerköy‑Kayseri high‑speed rail project is approximately 53% complete. (corroborated by 15 sources) - The number of cities directly served by high-speed rail in Turkey will increase from 11 to 27 by 2028. (corroborated by 14 sources) - The Yerköy‑Kayseri line is 142 km long, double‑track, electrified and signalled. (corroborated by 13 sources) - The line is designed for a maximum speed of 250 km/h. (corroborated by 13 sources) - About 5,000 km of railway lines are under construction, with 3,000 km expected to be completed by 2028. (corroborated by 7 sources) - Turkey aims for a 28,500 km rail network by 2053, enabling a 48‑hour circumnavigation. (corroborated by 7 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-17: Turkey YHT high-speed train ticket prices increase TCDD Taşımacılık has increased High Speed Train (YHT) ticket prices on major Turkish routes, including Ankara, Istanbul, Konya, and Eskişehir, following a second fare adjustment this year. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-yht-high-speed-train-ticket-prices-increase ### 2026-08-13: Ankara expands rail infrastructure with new metro and high-speed rail projects Ankara is advancing major rail projects, including a 34.04 billion TRY high-speed rail contract and a new 18.62-km metro connection, while TCDD considers ticket price increases. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ankara-expands-rail-infrastructure-with-new-metro-and-high-speed-rail-projects ### 2026-08-07: Kayseri transportation: High-speed train project reaches 53% completion Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the Yerköy-Kayseri high-speed train project is 53% complete, aiming to reduce Ankara-Kayseri travel to 1 hour 45 minutes by 2028. He also inaugurated a new boulevard. 32 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-launches-splitroad-construction-on-polatlhaymanakonya-highway ### 2026-08-03: Turkey's Mersin‑Adana‑Osmaniye‑Gaziantep High‑Speed Rail Project Targeted for 2028 Completion Turkey's Mersin‑Adana‑Osmaniye‑Gaziantep high‑speed rail, over 80 % built, aims for full service in 2028, cutting travel time to 2 h 15 m and handling 3.1 M passengers and 37 M tonnes of freight annually. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-mersinadanaosmaniyegaziantep-highspeed-rail-project-targeted-for-2028-completion ### 2026-07-30: Ankara‑İstanbul high‑speed train to cut travel time below four hours Turkey’s transport minister says new tunnel and bridge projects will cut Ankara‑İstanbul high‑speed rail travel by 30 minutes, dropping the journey to under four hours, with 27 cities to be served by 2028 and a 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-transport-minister-uralolu-sets-goal-of-28500-km-highspeed-rail-network-by-2053 ### 2026-07-20: Sabiha Gökçen Airport Sets New Summer Record for Passengers and Flights Sabiha Gökçen Airport recorded a summer peak of 171,460 passengers and 915 flights on 19 July 2026, citing coordinated 24‑hour operations. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sabiha-gken-airport-sets-alltime-daily-passenger-and-flight-record ### 2026-07-20: Turkey's New Antalya-Alanya Motorway Set to Cut Travel Time to Under 40 Minutes A 122‑km motorway between Antalya and Alanya will slash travel time from up to 2.5 hours to roughly 36 minutes, with completion aimed for within three years. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-new-antalya-alanya-motorway-set-to-cut-travel-time-to-under-40-minutes ### 2026-07-12: Turkey's Sabiha Gökçen Airport hits 166,000 daily passengers; July 15 public transport rides free Turkey's Sabiha Gökçen Airport set a daily record of 166,734 passengers on 12 July 2026, and on 15 July the government made key rail and metro lines in Istanbul, Ankara and İzmir free for citizens. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-sabiha-gken-airport-hits-166000-daily-passengers-july-15-public-transport-rides-free ### 2026-07-10: Turkey provides free rail travel on July 15 Democracy and Unity Day Turkey will waive fares on key urban rail lines—including Marmaray, Başkentray and İZBAN—on 15 July 2026, with free service on the Halkalı‑Arnavutköy metro continuing through 31 July. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-offers-free-rail-and-metro-rides-in-ankara-istanbul-and-izmir-on-july-15 ### 2026-07-05: Turkey aims to link whole country by high‑speed rail, 48‑hour tour by 2053 Turkey’s transport minister says a $355 bn high‑speed rail expansion will let the whole country be travelled in 48 hours by 2053, with 27 provinces linked by 2028. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-plans-48hour-highspeed-rail-network-by-2053 ### 2026-07-04: Abdulkadir Uraloğlu Announces Rail and Highway Cutting Travel Times Turkey's transport minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the Halkalı‑Kapıkule high‑speed rail and Kınalı‑Malkara highway will cut passenger travel from 4 h to 1.5 h and Istanbul‑Çanakkale to 2 h, with big 13 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-transport-minister-abdulkadir-uralolu-announces-faster-istanbulanakkale-rail-and-highway-lin ### 2026-06-29: Turkey adds summer high‑speed train services on Ankara‑Sivas line Turkey will run extra summer high‑speed train services on the Ankara‑Sivas line from 3 July to 14 Sept 2026, adding 36,168 seats to meet rising travel demand. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-adds-summer-highspeed-train-services-on-ankarasivas-line ### 2026-06-26: Istanbul Metro Sets Daily Record as Ankara Announces Air‑Taxi Project Istanbul’s new metro line hit a record 53,396 daily riders, while Ankara unveils an air‑taxi project to speed intercity travel. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-metro-sets-daily-record-as-ankara-announces-airtaxi-project ### 2026-06-19: President Erdoğan opens new Istanbul metro line and vows to solve city’s traffic woes President Erdoğan opened Istanbul’s new Halkalı‑Arnavutköy metro line, pledging continued investment to ease traffic, while Şanlıurfa’s mayor expressed steadfast loyalty to the president at a municipal building 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/president-erdoan-opens-new-istanbul-metro-line-and-vows-to-solve-citys-traffic-woes ### 2026-06-19: Istanbul's new Halkalı‑Arnavutköy Metro carries 10,021 riders on opening day Istanbul’s Halkalı‑Arnavutköy Metro opened on 19 June 2026, carried 10,021 passengers on its first day, and will be free until 31 July, completing a 69‑km ring line. 12 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-opens-istanbuls-fastest-metro-line-and-announces-225-kmh-domestic-train ### 2026-06-19: Turkey's President Erdoğan Announces Free Metro Service to Istanbul Airport Until July 31 President Erdoğan said the Halkalı‑İstanbul Airport metro will be free until 31 July 2026, encouraging use of the new rail link. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-president-erdoan-announces-free-metro-service-to-istanbul-airport-until-july-31 ### 2026-06-18: Istanbul's Halkalı‑Arnavutköy Metro Line Opens, Free Through July 31 Istanbul’s new Halkalı‑Arnavutköy Metro segment opens, completing Turkey’s longest metro ring, slashing travel times and offering free rides until July 31. 24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-opens-halkalarnavutky-metro-turkeys-longest-underground-rail ### 2026-06-16: Turkey's Transport Minister Announces Istanbul Metro Launch and New Railway Initiatives Turkey's transport minister announced the Istanbul Halkalı‑Arnavutköy metro will open on 19 June, linking multiple lines and cutting airport travel to 30 minutes, while also detailing new railway projects in J 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-transport-minister-announces-istanbul-metro-launch-and-new-railway-initiatives ### 2026-06-16: Istanbul Metro Line to Airport Opens, Cutting Travel Time to 30 Minutes Istanbul's new 21.75 km metro line opens on 19 June, adding five stations and linking to existing networks, cutting travel time to the airport to 30 minutes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/istanbul-metro-line-to-airport-opens-cutting-travel-time-to-30-minutes ### 2026-06-10: Ankara‑İstanbul high‑speed rail travel time reduced to 3 h 37 min Ankara‑İstanbul high‑speed rail travel time will be cut from 4 h 7 m to 3 h 37 m after the T26 tunnel and Doğançay Ripajı‑2 projects are completed, saving about 30 minutes. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/ankaraistanbul-highspeed-rail-travel-time-reduced-to-3-h-37-min ### 2026-06-08: Turkey's Ankara‑İstanbul High‑Speed Rail Travel Time Cut to 3h 37m Ankara‑İstanbul YHT travel time drops from 4 h 7 m to 3 h 37 m after the T26 tunnel and Doğançay Ripajı‑2 projects remove bottlenecks and raise speeds to 250 km/h. 9 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/lane-narrowing-on-kocaelis-tem-highway-scheduled-for-june-910 ### 2026-06-06: Turkey tests Halkalı‑Kapıkule high‑speed rail link Turkey’s transport minister supervised a test run on the new Halkalı‑Kapıkule high‑speed rail, a 229 km line that will cut travel times and boost cargo capacity, with service expected before year‑end. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-tests-halkalkapkule-highspeed-rail-link ### 2026-06-05: Turkey’s Ankara‑Samsun high‑speed rail project cuts travel time to 2.5 hours Turkey’s Ankara‑Samsun high‑speed rail, over 25 % built, will halve travel time to 2.5 hours and handle 12 M passengers yearly, slated for 2029. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-ankarasamsun-highspeed-rail-project-cuts-travel-time-to-25-hours ### 2026-06-05: Turkey expands high‑speed rail network with new Ankara‑Samsun, Halkalı‑Kapıkule and Ankara‑İstanbul lines Turkey advances high‑speed rail: Ankara‑Samsun time to 2.5 h, Istanbul‑Kapıkule to 1.5 h, and a new Ankara‑İstanbul 80‑min line, with further extensions to Kayseri. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkeys-ankarasamsun-highspeed-rail-to-cut-travel-time-to-25-hours --- Cite as: Turkey Rail Expansion and Infrastructure Progress. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkey-highspeed-rail-expansion