24.02.2026 14:43
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that a preliminary financing agreement of a total of 6.75 billion dollars has been reached with 6 international financial institutions for the 125-kilometer Northern Environmental Railway Project, which will pass through the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. The project, which will start from Çayırova and extend to Çatalca, will connect Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport by railway.
Minister Uraloğlu stated in a written statement that an agreement has been reached with international financial institutions for a total financing of 6.75 billion dollars for the Northern Environmental Railway Project covering the route of Gebze-Sabiha Gökçen Airport-Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge-Istanbul Airport-Halkalı. Minister Uraloğlu noted that a preliminary agreement has been reached with the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, Asian Development Bank, Islamic Development Bank, OPEC International Development Fund, and European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
"THE TENDER PROCESS WILL BE COMPLETED THIS YEAR"
Uraloğlu emphasized that the intense interest shown by international financial institutions in the project is the clearest indication of the confidence in Turkey's railway vision, stating, "We have reached a preliminary agreement with 6 international financial institutions. In this context, the institutions will provide a total of 6.75 billion dollars in financing for our project. Thus, the Northern Environmental Railway Project covering the route of Gebze–Sabiha Gökçen Airport–Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge–Istanbul Airport–Halkalı will be Turkey's largest externally financed railway project." Minister Uraloğlu, who stated that preparations for the construction tender are ongoing, announced, "We aim to complete the tender process within this year and start the work by delivering the site."
HERE ARE THE ROUTES
Uraloğlu, regarding the project's route, stated, "The project will start from the Çayırova section of the Marmaray line and will connect to Çatalca via Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, and Istanbul Airport. The line will integrate with the Halkalı-Cerkezkoy High-Speed Train Line, which we are currently rapidly continuing construction work on in Çatalca. With this line, freight and passenger transportation on Marmaray will be relieved, and for the first time, Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport will be directly connected by railway," he said.
"A NEW ERA WILL BEGIN IN LOGISTICS"
Uraloğlu stated that the line will be constructed with a total length of 125 kilometers and noted: "A total of 44 tunnels with a total length of 59.1 kilometers and 42 bridges with a length of 22.4 kilometers will be built within the scope of the project. A new era will begin in logistics. With the completion of the line, we anticipate that 33 million passengers and 30 million tons of cargo will be transported annually."