# Turkish transportation and aviation infrastructure expansion > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/turkish-transportation-and-aviation-infrastructure-expansion > Updated: 2026-09-25T15:41:33.000Z. Sources: 19. Developments: 2. Turkish aviation and transportation infrastructure continue to expand through significant investment. Following reports that Turkish airports served over 167.5 million passengers in the first eight months of 2026, the government is prioritizing the expansion of its railway network and domestic manufacturing. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that mass production of a domestic electric train, capable of speeds up to 225 km/h, is scheduled to begin by the end of 2026. This follows a broader $355 billion investment strategy in the transportation sector. Major railway projects are currently underway, including the Kars-Erzurum line, which has received environmental approval for its 208-kilometer route. The Ankara-Izmir high-speed train (YHT) project is also a priority, with a target completion date of 2028 intended to reduce travel time between the cities to 3.5 hours. The Ministry aims to increase the number of provinces with direct high-speed rail connections from 11 to 27 by 2028, while expanding the total railway network to 17,287 kilometers. Other active developments include the Halkali-Kapikule and Mersin-Adana-Gaziantep lines. Recent updates indicate that the Çerkezköy-Kapıkule section of the Halkalı-Kapıkule high-speed line is expected to open next month. In urban and regional infrastructure, the Çeşmeli-Erdemli-Silifke-Taşucu highway project has reached 98% physical progress, which is expected to reduce transit times between Konya and the Mediterranean. Additionally, the Sarıyer-Kilyos tunnel in Istanbul is slated for opening by the end of 2026. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-25: Turkey announces major transport and high-speed rail expansion Turkey is accelerating major transport projects, including a national electric train set for 2026 production, expanding high-speed rail networks to 27 provinces by 2028, and completing key highways and tunnels. 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkey-expands-airport-network-to-58-locations ### 2026-09-19: Turkish airports serve 167.5 million passengers in first eight months of 2026 Turkish airports served over 167.5 million passengers in the first eight months of 2026, with Istanbul and Antalya airports alone handling 81.7 million travelers. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/turkish-airports-serve-1675-million-passengers-in-first-eight-months-of-2026 --- Cite as: Turkish transportation and aviation infrastructure expansion. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/turkish-transportation-and-aviation-infrastructure-expansion