New train line to connect Turkey, Europe: Turkish PM
İZMİR - Anadolu Agency
Bulgarian PM Boyko Borisov (L) and Turkish PM Binali Yıldırım (R)
Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said June 12 Turkey will begin building its part of a new high speed train project that will be part of the Trans-European transportation corridor.
Speaking at a joint news conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov in the western İzmir province, Yıldırım said: “We are starting the new high speed train project in a few months, which is Turkey’s part of the Trans-European transportation corridor.”
He said the new train line will be 233 kilometers (145 miles) long, which would go all the way from Istanbul to the western Edirne province.
Yıldırım added the train line would give a boost to the historic Silk Road linking Europe, Balkans, Anatolian territories, Middle East and the Far East.
“At the same time, this link will provide transportation corridors towards Europe over Turkey and Bulgaria,” he said.
According to the Turkish Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Ministry, the Halkalı-Kapıkule railroad project will connect the Iron Silk Road route’s Turkish part with Europe. The high speed trains will operate at a speed of 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour.
