Türkiye secures $2B World Bank loan for game-changing Bosporus railway

The World Bank has approved a $2 billion loan for Türkiye's new railway line across the Bosporus. Known as the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), it will stretch 125 kilometres through northern Istanbul, near the Black Sea entrance. The scheme aims to boost freight and passenger rail capacity while improving transport links between Europe and Asia.

The INRAIL project will connect key hubs, including Gebze, Sabiha Gökçen Airport, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, Istanbul Airport and Halkalı. By creating a continuous corridor, it will bypass the city centre and remove a major bottleneck for rail traffic. The new line will feature electrified tracks, 44 tunnels and 42 bridges, ensuring high-capacity operations.

The $2 billion loan forms part of a broader $6.75 billion financing package. Six multilateral development banks are backing the project, making it the largest foreign-financed railway in Türkiye if completed. Once operational, INRAIL is expected to raise cross-Bosporus rail freight capacity from 3 million to 50 million tonnes per year. The project will enhance the reliability of national and intercontinental transport routes. By enabling uninterrupted rail traffic, it will strengthen connections between Europe and Asia while supporting both passenger and freight services.

The new railway will significantly increase transport capacity and efficiency in the region. If completed as planned, it will become a critical link in Türkiye's rail network. The project's success depends on the coordinated funding and construction efforts of the involved development banks.