World Bank Approves €1.67bn Loan for 127km Istanbul Northern Rail Crossing

The World Bank has approved €1.67bn ($2bn) financing for Turkey's Istanbul Northern Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL), a 127km electrified rail line connecting the city's Asian and European sides via both major airports.

This project represents one of Europe's largest urban rail investments and will create the second rail crossing of the Bosphorus Strait. The line will provide direct airport connectivity between Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side and Istanbul Airport on the European side, addressing capacity constraints on existing metro and ferry connections. The project's scale positions it among the most ambitious cross-continental urban rail schemes globally, with potential to reshape Istanbul's transport geography and reduce road congestion across the strait.

The electrified line will connect Gebze in the east to Halkalı in the west, passing through both Istanbul airports and crossing the Bosphorus via the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge. Turkey's Treasury and Finance Ministry confirmed the World Bank loan approval, with officials indicating additional financing sources are expected. The 127km route represents a substantial addition to Istanbul's rail network, which currently relies primarily on the Marmaray tunnel for cross-Bosphorus rail services.

The INRAIL project aligns with Turkey's broader infrastructure modernization program and reflects growing international lender confidence in large-scale Turkish transport projects. The World Bank's substantial commitment follows similar major rail investments across emerging markets, as multilateral lenders prioritize sustainable urban mobility solutions. The project's airport connectivity component addresses Istanbul's position as a major aviation hub requiring enhanced ground transport integration.