Governor of Edirne, Yunus Sezer, announced that test drives would begin shortly for the Edirne section of the Halkalı-Kapıkule High-Speed Train Project.
Sezer told reporters that physical progress of 92% had been achieved in the infrastructure, superstructure, and railway maintenance technical staff (EST) works for the Çerkezköy-Kapıkule (153 km) section of the project.
He also stated that construction on the superstructure of the Edirne section was progressing rapidly and that “trial and test runs would be conducted soon.”
The Governor added that work in the city center was nearly complete.
About the Project
The Halkalı-Kapıkule Railway Project, which will provide a high-standard rail connection between Turkey and European countries, consists of three sections: the 153 km Kapıkule-Çerkezköy section, the 67 km Çerkezköy-Ispartakule section, and the 8.4 km Ispartakule-Halkalı section.
Work on the first phase of the project, the 153 km Çerkezköy-Kapıkule line, is nearly finished, with 92% progress.
The project, which started in June 2019, will connect Edirne to the high-speed rail network and reduce travel times between Halkalı and Kapıkule from 4 hours to 1.5 hours for passenger trains and from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours for freight trains.
Once completed, the project will form one of the most important links in the European section of the historic Silk Road route, which passes through Turkey.
The new high-speed train line, which will be built for both freight and passenger transport, will have a double track, be electrified, and signalized, with speeds of up to 200 km/h along a 229 km route.
Full project details are available in the Istanbul–Edirne High-Speed Train (2026) project overview.
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