The Asian Development Bank has approved a €645.83 million loan to support a new 127-kilometer rail corridor around Istanbul, strengthening Türkiye’s transcontinental logistics network. The project aims to ease freight bottlenecks, improve transport resilience, and attract investment through expanded rail connectivity.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a €645.83 million loan, equivalent to $750 million, for the development of the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project, a 127-kilometer greenfield railway designed to enhance freight and passenger movement between Europe and Asia through Türkiye.
The new corridor will create a high-capacity rail connection across the Strait of Istanbul while bypassing the city’s congested urban core. The project is intended to remove a critical logistics constraint on one of the country’s key transport routes and improve the efficiency, reliability, and resilience of supply chains.
The investment is significant for the transport, logistics, aviation, and trade sectors. By linking Türkiye’s two principal airports to the rail network and expanding freight capacity, the railway is expected to support cargo operators, logistics providers, manufacturers, and travelers. Improved rail infrastructure may also help shift more freight traffic to rail, supporting national transport policy objectives.
According to official disclosures, the project is being financed through the ADB–World Bank Full Mutual Reliance Framework, a cofinancing mechanism intended to streamline project delivery. Additional funding is expected from several multilateral lenders, with total project costs estimated at $8.27 billion.
ADB is a multilateral development finance institution that supports economic and infrastructure development across Asia and the Pacific. The railway project aligns with Türkiye’s long-term transport and logistics strategy and broader efforts to strengthen regional connectivity and trade competitiveness.
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