Istanbul’s two major airports are set to be connected by a dedicated railway line for the first time in history. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced that preliminary financing agreements have been reached with six international lenders: the World Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Islamic Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, and the OPEC Fund for International Development. The total funding package stands at USD 6.75 billion.
The Northern Ring Railway
The project, officially designated the Northern Ring Railway, will originate at the Cayirova junction of the Marmaray line, pass through Sabiha Gokcen International Airport on the Asian side, cross the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, continue to Istanbul Airport on the European side, and extend to Catalca. At Catalca, it will integrate with the Halkali–Cerkezkoy High-Speed Train Line, completing a continuous rail corridor across the entire city.
The line is projected to carry 33 million passengers and 30 million tonnes of freight annually. Construction tender preparations are already under way, with authorities targeting completion of the procurement process and site handover within the current year.
Türkiye’s largest externally financed rail project
Minister Uraloglu noted that the preliminary financing agreement elevates the Northern Ring Railway to the status of the largest externally financed rail project in Türkiye’s history. The investment reflects growing international confidence in Istanbul’s infrastructure potential — a city of over 15 million people and one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
Once operational, the rail link will eliminate the need for road-based transfers between the two airports, offering passengers a faster connection between long-haul and regional flights. The route is also expected to ease pressure on major highways and support freight flows between logistics centers, ports, and industrial zones — reinforcing Istanbul’s strategic role as a trade gateway between Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.
