Istanbul - Ankara High Speed Line to Open July 25

The delayed high speed railway line between Istanbul and Ankara will be opened on July 25. Originally due to start services in May, the line has been hit with problems due to cable thefts on the line. Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan will formally open the line.

The new line will cut journey times between the country’s capital and its largest city by 40%, to around 3.5 hours. Transport Minister Lutfi Elvan described the problems delaying the opening as deliberate sabotage. He went onto say that any further delay to the opening of the line is out of the question.

Turkey is planning massive investment into its high speed rail network ahead of the republic’s centenary celebrations in 2023, with around half of the national organisation Turkish State Railways’ investment this year - €618 million - being invested in the network from its 2014 budget. The country already has a network linking three cities in central Anatolia - Ankara, Konya and Eskisehir - but aims to develop this far further in the coming years.