Turkish Republic Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments (AYGM) intends to construct a new high-speed railway line from Halkali to Ispartakule and from Ispartakule to Cerkezkoy, in two different tenders and sections. The Project will be located within the region of Istanbul and province of Tekirdag. Once operational the Project would be operated by TCDD and TCDD Transport. 

The Project will provide passenger and freight services connecting Istanbul (at the existing Halkali Station) to the district of Cerkezkoy and will link to the under-construction Cerkezkoy -Kapikule railway to form one integrated railway system with full interoperability. 

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), collectively called the ‘Lenders’, are considering financing components of the Project, specifically the railway between Ispartakule and Cerkezkoy. The Project and this NonTechnical Summary (NTS) have therefore been developed on behalf of AYGM in accordance with these Lenders policies and requirements. 

The project is composed of two sections (i) Halkali- Ispartakule (9 km) and (ii) Ispartakule-Cerkezkoy (67 km) which together will provide a new 76km high speed electric rail link connecting Istanbul (at the existing Halkali Station) to a location 1 km to the east of the existing Ҫerkezköy Station (at this location it will link to the under-construction Cerkezkoy-Kapikule railway).  

Halkali Station is located within Istanbul province and Cerkezkoy is located within Tekirdag province, both in the north-west of Turkey. Both passenger and freight trains will operate on the new railway.   

The project will include 9 Bridges, 2 Viaduct, 8 Tunnels, 17 Overpasses and 26 underpasses.  

The tunnels will be constructed using the following techniques:   

• TBM: the TBM tunnel  - 5,987 m right tube and 5,968 left tube- will pass under residential areas and the proposed Kanal Istanbul project. The 8.3 m diameter tunnel (km 0+700 – km 6+678) will reach a maximum depth of 54m below sea level under the proposed Kanal Istanbul project before reemerging into a 363 m cut and cover tunnel. The tunnel will contain two high-speed tracks with one line for each direction (though bi-directional operation will also be possible, if necessary). The twin-bored tunnel tracks will be suitable for use by both conventional and high-speed trains. 
• Cut and cover: there will be 5 cut&cover tunnels along the project alignment. One of these creates the exit from the TBM-twin bore tunnel and passes underneath agricultural fields before opening into agricultural fields. This 363 m cut and cover tunnel will be suitable for use by both conventional and high-speed trains 
• NATM: the first NATM tunnel (tunnel 4, 2425 m long) will connect to tunnel 3 (Cut&cover  tunnel) and will pass  underneath residential and commercial industrial areas.  It will contain 2 emergency side passages. The second NATM tunnel (tunnel 5,  350 m long)  will pass  underneath an area of hilly terrain  

All the tunnels will be lined with precast concrete segments and a waterproof membrane will be installed to prevent groundwater intrusion and corrosion of the concrete. The waterproof membrane will consist of two layers, a protective felt layer and a further Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) membrane.  

The Project is due to be tendered in 2021, with construction commencing in December 2021, and the Project becoming operational in 2026. Throughout all construction activities the Contractor will comply with the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) and the Contractor Management Plan (CMP) that have been developed for the Project.  

There are likely to be 3 construction compounds along the Project. It is assumed that a compound will be required at either end of the Project, located at Esenyurt (near Halkali) and Cerkezkoy, with a further third compound located centrally near Kabakca. For further on the project please click here for the ESIA (Environmental and Social Impact Assessment) and  tr/49 for tunnelbuilder archive.  Visit https://www.ebrd.com/. 26/21.