Türkiye’s railway line to reach over 14K kilometers in 2025

By Ayse Bocuoglu Bodur

ANKARA (AA) – Türkiye’s railway line is expected to reach over 14,000 kilometers (8,700 miles) and the high-speed rail line to go over 2,600 kilometers (1,616 miles) next year, according to the country’s 2025 central government budget proposal.

Railway investments in accordance with the central government budget proposal aim to increase the standards of existing lines and focus on freight transportation, connecting industrial zones, ports, and logistics centers to main lines.

The program allocates 309.6 billion Turkish lira ($9 billion) for the next year, $10.1 billion in 2026, and $10.9 billion in 2027 for railway construction, operation, and services.

The railway line is expected to reach over 13,900 kilometers by the end of this year, while the length is planned to be extended to over 14,200 kilometers next year, and to over 15,900 kilometers in 2027.

Double-track railways among the total main line are aimed to increase to 18% next year, to 19% in 2026, and to 21% in 2027, according to the budget.

The program also aims to increase the share of railways in passenger transportation from 5.93% next year to 6.12% in 2026 and to 6.3% in 2027.

The target length for high-speed railway lines is a little over 2,600 kilometers next year, 2,800 kilometers in 2026, and 4,100 kilometers in 2027.

The budget’s railway investments aim to turn Türkiye into an important logistics base, enabling great opportunities in exports.

The program estimates that the share of railways in total freight transportation is to increase to 6.76% next year, 7.53% in 2026, and 7.7% in 2027.

*Writing by Emir Yildirim in Istanbul