Turkey’s General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments (AYGM) has published a General Procurement Notice for the “İstanbul Kuzey Demiryolu Geçişi – Istanbul North Rail Crossing (INRAIL)” project (Project ID P509952). The announcement was published in the Resmi Gazete on February 27. Earlier, on February 24, Turkish Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced a preliminary agreement with six international financial institutions to secure $6.75 billion in financing. The financing will include a $2 billion loan from the World Bank, as well as co-financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the Islamic Development Bank, and the OPEC Fund for International Development. According to the minister, the Northern Ring Railway will be Turkey’s largest externally financed railway project, with tendering procedures scheduled to be completed this year.
The project involves the construction of a 122.3-kilometer double-track main line between the Çayırova and Çatalca stations, as well as 4.7 kilometers of single-track connections—a total of 127 kilometers of electrified, fully signaled track with a design speed of up to 160 km/h. The work will be carried out under the Design-Build (FIDIC Yellow Book) model, which combines design and construction under a single contract. A separate contract covers the design, supply, and installation of signaling and telecommunications systems along the entire line.
INRAIL’s services also include design and construction supervision, project management consulting, and independent monitoring of its implementation, including technical support and quality assurance. The construction and electrification work is divided into four sections: 28.49 km, 25.76 km, 32.15 km, and 39.49 km. The construction period is five years, plus a two-year warranty period. The publication of special tender announcements for construction and consulting packages is expected in April 2026.