33 million passengers will be transported annually by Istanbul Northern Railway

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said that they envisage that 33 million passengers and 30 million tons of freight will be transported annually with the completion of the Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing Project, which will pass through the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Uraloğlu made a written statement regarding the railway project that will pass through Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. Reminding that the tender announcement on the subject was published in the Official Gazette, Uraloğlu noted that the tender for the design and construction of the infrastructure and superstructure works of the project will be held on October 14.

Uraloğlu stated that within the scope of the tender, 122.3 kilometers long double main line and 4.7 kilometers single line connections connecting to this main line, 5 double-tube TBM tunnels of 36.2 kilometers length, 22 double-track NATM tunnels of 23.3 kilometers length, 17 cut-and-cover tunnels of 3.7 kilometers length, two viaducts of 22.1 kilometers length and 40 bridges and stations and similar works will be carried out. Reminding that a financing agreement was made with international financial institutions for the project in question, Uraloğlu made the following assessment: "We have reached a preliminary agreement with 6 international financial institutions. In this context, the organizations will provide a total of 6.75 billion dollars of financing to our project.

Thus, the Northern Ring Railway Project, covering the Gebze-Sabiha Gökçen Airport-Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge-Istanbul Airport-Çatalca route, will be Türkiye's largest externally financed railway project. Uraloğlu stated that the line within the scope of the project will start from the Çayırova section of the Marmaray line and will be connected to Çatalca via Sabiha Gökçen Airport, Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge and Istanbul Airport. The construction work of the project continues rapidly in Çatalca.

Stating that it will be integrated into the Halkalı-Çerkezköy High Speed Train Line, Uraloğlu said: "As the line allows 24/7 railway transportation, Marmaray transit will be easier and the load capacity we carry in the Middle Corridor will increase. Istanbul Airport and Sabiha Gökçen Airport will be connected directly by rail for the first time.