Riding the Silk Road at Super Speed
The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure is making strides with the new highway project between Ankara and Istanbul, aimed at improving transportation between the two major cities.
The planned new highway will stretch from Ankara to the Northern Marmara Highway via Nallıhan-Göynük-Akyazı. While there is currently an active state road and a highway that connects Ankara and Istanbul via Bolu Mountain and the Sakarya line, the Ministry is looking to further heighten the efficiency and speed of transportation between the two cities.
A significant development is the completion of the preliminary project work for the Ankara-Istanbul Super Speed Train Line project. According to Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, the proposed route length of the super high-speed train line will be 344 kilometers. The aim is to reduce travel time to a mere 80 minutes, thanks to trains that will reach speeds of 350 kilometers per hour.
This decision by the government represents the revival of the 344-kilometer historical Silk Road route with the Ankara-Istanbul Super Speed Train project, making it one of the largest projects in the history of the Republic.
The project will see the construction of 19 viaducts spanning 14 kilometers and 52 tunnels stretching 120 kilometers. The train’s remarkable speed and efficiency will allow for faster travel times, with the added benefit of using the existing high-speed train line.
Nevzat Ceylan, Speaker of the Capital Ankara Assembly and former AK Party Ankara Deputy, highlighted the significance of returning the Istanbul-Ankara line to its historical route. He emphasized that the historical Silk Road route, which shortens the trip between Ankara and Istanbul by approximately 70 kilometers, is the most suitable in terms of climate and topography.
The government’s commitment to this transformative project aims to correct past mistakes and provide a more comfortable, efficient, and safer mode of transportation between these two major cities, benefiting millions of residents and travelers. The envisioned improvements in the Ankara-Istanbul transportation corridor will generate significant economic and social advantages for the region.
