Turkish PM: New train line to connect Turkey, Europe

By Ramazan Ercan

IZMIR, Turkey (AA) - Premier Binali Yildirim said Tuesday Turkey will begin building its part of a new high speed train project that will be part of the Trans-European transportation corridor.

Speaking at a joint news conference with his Bulgarian counterpart Boyko Borisov in western Izmir province, Yildirim said: "We are starting the new high speed train project in a few months, which is Turkey's part of the Trans-European transportation corridor."

He said the new train line will be 233 kilometers (145 miles) long, which would go all the way from Istanbul to western Edirne.

He added the train line would give a boost to the historic Silk Road linking Europe, Balkans, Anatolian territories, Middle East and the Far East.

"At the same time, this link will provide transportation corridors towards Europe over Turkey and Bulgaria," Yildirim said.

According to the Turkish Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications, the Halkali-Kapikule railroad project will connect the Iron Silk Road route's Turkish part with Europe. The high speed trains will operate at a speed of 200 kilometers (124 miles) per hour.