Salini Impregilo to Build High-Speed ‘Orient Express’ Railway in Turkey

Salini Impregilo has won a €530-million contract to build a 153-kilometre section of a new “Orient Express” high-speed railway in Turkey between Istanbul and the border with Bulgaria.

Set to last four years, the line will belong to the Trans-European Transport Network that connects member countries of the European Union. It will be a part of the Orient/East-Med Corridor, which connects Central Europe with ports of the North, Baltic, Black and Mediterranean seas.

The project will reduce travel times, increase safety and contribute to the development of the region. After working a year on the project, Salini Impregilo will lead with a 50.01% stake in a joint-venture with Kolin İnşaat Turizm Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş.

The latest contract will link the Halkali station to that of Kapikule with a double track that will replace the existing single track. It will be for trains that can travel at speeds of up to 200 kilometres per hour. The contract includes electrification, signaling and other auxiliary civil works related to that section of the line. The contract also guarantees the immediate availability of machines to move 80 million cubic meters of earth.