Turkey Completes Halkali-Kule High-Speed Rail Project

The Halkali-Kapikule High Speed Rail Project in Turkey has reached its final stages. The project consists of three main sections and will reduce travel time between Edirne and Istanbul to 1.5 hours. Trains are expected to reach speeds of 200 kilometers per hour. The dual-track system will allow for both passenger and freight transport. The project aims to bring Turkey's land transport to modern standards. The 3-kilometer railway line consists of three main sections: Kapikule to Çerkezköy at 173 kilometers, Çerkezköy to Isparta Kule at 67 kilometers, and Isparta Kule to Halkali at 8.4 kilometers. Work on the first stage between Çerkezköy and Kapikule is nearly finished. Test drives have already begun on the three sections. Once finished, the line will provide a direct connection between Edirne and Istanbul. Passenger travel time is expected to decrease from 4 hours to 1.5 hours. The double-track line, constructed as Halkali and Kapikule sections, will also support freight transport, reducing transit times from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours.