Turkiye: $8bn Istanbul North Rail Crossing Opens for Design-and-Construction Tender

Turkiye opened the design-and-construction tender for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL) on 28 July 2026, RailFreight.com reported, with applications due by 14 October 2026.

The project comprises a double-tracked, electrified, mixed-use rail line for passenger and freight traffic across four construction lots totalling around 127 km: Cayirova to Sabiha Gokcen Airport to Kurtdogmus (28.49 km), Kurtdogmus to Alibahadir (25.76 km), Alibahadir via the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge to Mithatpasa (32.14 km), and Mithatpasa via Istanbul Airport to Catalca (39.49 km). The scope includes 44 tunnels - five twin-tube, 22 built using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method and 17 cut-and-cover - plus more than 40 bridges and two viaducts. Signalling and telecommunications works are covered by a separate tender.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said Turkiye has reached preliminary agreement with six international financial institutions on $6.75 billion in financing, calling INRAIL the country's largest externally financed rail project. He said the completed line is projected to carry 33 million passengers and 30 million tonnes of freight a year, according to Turkish media including Posta.

Total project cost is put at $8 billion. Secured financing includes $2 billion from the World Bank, $1.5 billion from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and $750 million from the Asian Development Bank, with Turkiye providing $1.52 billion.