Türkiye, November 2026 – Türkiye has announced a new railway expansion programme as part of a wider 4,850-kilometre national rail development initiative. Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu confirmed that the proposed high-speed rail extension will connect the eastern provinces of Erzincan and Erzurum before terminating in Kars, extending the country's high-speed railway network further east.
The project will be implemented in two phases. The first will involve upgrading the existing railway infrastructure through electrification and the installation of modern signalling systems. Once these improvements are completed, construction of a new double-track high-speed railway line will proceed to connect the three provinces. Project preparations have reportedly been completed, although a detailed construction timeline and investment value were not specified in the announcement.
The extension is expected to improve passenger connectivity across eastern Türkiye, providing stronger links between regional centres and the country's wider transport network. Modernising the existing railway infrastructure will also establish the technical foundation for more efficient railway operations, while the planned double-track configuration will support increased line capacity.
Beyond domestic connectivity, the project carries strategic importance for international freight and passenger transportation. Uraloğlu highlighted the railway's potential role within a broader international corridor connecting Central Asia and Turkestan through Türkiye towards London. This positioning reinforces Türkiye's ambitions to strengthen its role as a transit country between European and Asian markets.
The development forms part of Türkiye's wider strategy to expand railway capacity, modernise existing infrastructure and strengthen international transport connections. By combining electrification, signalling improvements and new high-speed railway construction, the programme represents a significant step towards developing a more integrated and technologically advanced national rail network.
Türkiye News
Source: Hürriyet Daily News
Türkiye Advances High-Speed Rail Expansion to Eastern Provinces
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Railway expansion is playing an increasingly important role in strengthening regional connectivity and integrating national networks into international transport corridors. Türkiye has announced a major railway development programme that will extend high-speed rail services into its eastern provinces, improving domestic connections while supporting its strategic position along the Europe–Asia rail corridor.
