On February 24, 2026, Türkiye’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that the country had reached preliminary financing agreements worth $6.75 billion with six major international lenders for the Northern Ring Railway Project, set to become Türkiye’s largest foreign-funded rail investment. The 125 km corridor is targeted for completion by 2030.
The line will cross the Bosphorus via the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, strengthening rail connectivity between Asia and Europe and reinforcing Türkiye’s strategic position along the Middle Corridor. Once operational, it is expected to handle 33 million passengers and 30 million tons of freight annually, easing pressure on the Marmaray tunnel while significantly expanding cross-continental freight capacity.
Authorities aim to finalize the construction tender and commence groundwork within 2026. With 44 tunnels (59.1 km) and 42 bridges (22.4 km), the project represents one of the most technically ambitious rail undertakings in the region. It will also provide, for the first time, direct rail connectivity between Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport, integrating aviation and rail infrastructure at a metropolitan scale.
The financing framework includes the World Bank, AIIB, ADB, Islamic Development Bank, OPEC Fund and EBRD, reflecting strong multilateral backing for Türkiye’s Eurasian logistics ambitions.
InfraEconomy performed a viability assessment for this project, contributing to its analytical and economic evaluation framework.
Official Source: Minister Uraloğlu’s X.com account
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