World Bank Funds Bosphorus Railway Project

On March 31, the World Bank approved a $2 billion loan for the Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL). The infrastructure project aims to eliminate a major bottleneck in rail traffic between Asia and Europe and strengthen Turkey’s role as a logistics hub.

At the heart of the project is the expansion of rail connections across the Bosphorus, which has so far been considered a bottleneck in the so-called Middle Corridor. This route connects China to Europe via Central Asia, the Caspian Sea, and the South Caucasus. The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, in particular, plays a key role as a gateway to Turkey.

INRAIL involves the construction of an approximately 127-kilometer-long, electrified high-speed line as well as a new crossing of the Bosphorus. Among other things, the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge is to be used to efficiently route freight traffic around the center of Istanbul.

The planned capacity expansions are substantial: the annual volume of freight transported across the Bosphorus could rise from the current level of about 3 million tons to as much as 50 million tons. This would eliminate a critical bottleneck along the trade route between China and Europe.

The World Bank considers the project strategically significant for the entire region. In addition to greater transport efficiency, it is also expected to generate economic momentum—for example, through new jobs, investments, and stronger integration of international supply chains.

In the long term, the project is expected not only to strengthen rail freight transport but also to help shift transport from road to rail. As a result, Turkey will continue to gain importance as a central hub between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.