# Turkey opens Çerkezköy-Kapıkule high-speed rail line

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkish-railway-infrastructure-development
> Updated: 2026-10-07T07:01:52.000Z. Sources: 56. Developments: 4.

Turkey has officially inaugurated the 153-kilometer Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section of the Halkalı-Kapıkule High-Speed Train Line. The opening ceremony, attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, marks a significant milestone in strengthening the Middle Corridor connection between Asia and Europe.

This new section, the longest part of the 229-kilometer project, extends the high-speed network to the Bulgarian border and brings the provinces of Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, and Edirne into the system. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu described the line as a “strategic asset” that strengthens the Middle Corridor and enhances international transit logistics.

Following the inauguration in the Babaeski district, passenger services have officially commenced from Edirne Station. The service currently includes six daily high-speed train trips in each direction, with scheduled stops at Büyükkarıştıran, Lüleburgaz, and Babaeski stations. The electric trains operate at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour and offer a capacity of 221 passengers per train. Additionally, two regional train services continue to operate between Halkalı and Uzunköprü.

Designed with double tracks, electrification, and Level-1 signaling, the line features 31 bridges, 8 open-cut tunnels, 2 viaducts, and 114 underpasses and overpasses. The European Union contributed 275 million euros to the project. The line has already reduced passenger transit between Çerkezköy and Edirne to 54 minutes from previous durations of approximately four hours. Once the entire Halkalı-Kapıkule project is completed, total travel time between Istanbul and the Kapıkule border is expected to drop from 4 hours to 1.5 hours, while freight transit will decrease from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours.

## Claims

- The total length of the Halkalı-Kapıkule high-speed train project is 229 kilometers. (disputed by 2 sources)
- The Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section of the Halkalı-Kapıkule High-Speed Train Line has been opened. (corroborated by 19 sources)
- The project connects Turkey to the European railway network. (corroborated by 12 sources)
- Passenger travel time between Halkalı and Kapıkule will decrease from 4 hours to 1.5 hours. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- The Çerkezköy-Kapıkule line has a design and operating speed of 200 kilometers per hour. (corroborated by 8 sources)
- Freight transport time will be reduced from 8 hours 30 minutes to 3 hours 30 minutes. (corroborated by 7 sources)
- The Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section is the longest stage of the Halkalı-Kapıkule High-Speed Train project. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Annual passenger capacity is expected to rise from 600,000 to 3 million. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- Annual freight capacity is expected to rise from 1.5 million tons to 9.5 million tons. (corroborated by 6 sources)
- The Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section of the Halkalı-Kapıkule High-Speed Train Line will be inaugurated on October 9. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-07: Turkey inaugurates Çerkezköy-Kapıkule high-speed rail section

President Erdoğan inaugurated the 153km Çerkezköy-Kapıkule high-speed rail section, significantly reducing travel times and boosting freight capacity between Turkey and Europe.

43 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-opens-erkezky-kapkule-high-speed-rail-line

### 2026-10-05: Türkiye to open 153-km high-speed rail link to Bulgarian border

Türkiye will inaugurate a 153-km high-speed rail section to the Bulgarian border on October 9, significantly reducing passenger and freight travel times to Europe.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/trkiye-to-open-153-km-high-speed-rail-link-to-bulgarian-border

### 2026-10-02: Turkey to open Çerkezköy-Kapıkule high-speed rail section on October 9

Turkey will open the 153km Çerkezköy-Kapıkule high-speed rail section on October 9, reducing Halkalı-Kapıkule travel time to 1.5 hours and boosting freight capacity to 9.5 million tons annually.

16 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-to-inaugurate-erkezky-kapkule-high-speed-rail-section-on-october-9

### 2026-09-23: Turkey celebrates 170 years of railway history and infrastructure growth

Turkey marks 170 years of railway history, highlighting its role as a regional logistics hub with high-speed rail and a daily capacity of 750,000 passengers and 90,000 tons of freight.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-celebrates-170-years-of-railway-history-and-infrastructure-growth

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Cite as: Turkey opens Çerkezköy-Kapıkule high-speed rail line. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkish-railway-infrastructure-development