Politics · Turkey · 15 hrs ago
Turkey plans high-speed rail link from Gaziantep to Habur
Turkey plans to extend high-speed rail from Gaziantep to Habur, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said at a ceremony in Nizip, in southeastern Turkey.
The proposed route would pass through Şanlıurfa and reach Habur, on the Iraqi border.
Uraloğlu said the plan would connect Turkey by rail to Iraq and, through the Persian Gulf, to a rail-and-sea route reaching China.
The announcement came as officials opened a 30.5-kilometre divided road between Nizip and Karkamış, as well as a new junction in Nizip.
The new road is intended to improve access to the border area, and the minister said it would save money on travel and fuel each year.
The rail plan could strengthen connections for trade and transport, but no timetable or construction details were given.
Turkey plans to extend a high-speed rail line from Gaziantep through Şanlıurfa to Habur, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said.
Uraloğlu said the route could connect to Iraq, the Persian Gulf and, through a rail-and-sea link, China.
He made the announcement at an opening ceremony in Nizip, Gaziantep province, for a road and junction.
The projects opened were a 4.2-kilometre junction and a 30.5-kilometre road to the Karkamış-Cerablus border crossing.
- Who
- Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced the plan.
- What
- Turkey plans to extend a high-speed rail line from Gaziantep to Şanlıurfa and Habur.
- When
- November 14, 2026. Uraloğlu announced it at an opening ceremony.
- Where
- The planned route runs from Gaziantep through Şanlıurfa to Habur, near the Iraqi border.
- Why
- Uraloğlu said the railway would connect Turkey to Iraq and the Persian Gulf, with a rail-and-sea link reaching China.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Uraloğlu announced the planned railway extension at an opening ceremony in Nizip.
Officials opened the Nizip Adliye Junction and the Nizip-Karkamış Road.
- Planned railway route
- Gaziantep to Şanlıurfa and Habur
- Further connection described
- Iraq, the Persian Gulf and China
- Nizip Adliye Junction
- 4.2 kilometres, including connecting roads
- Nizip-Karkamış Road
- 30.5 kilometres, extending to the Karkamış-Cerablus border crossing
What people are saying
The high-speed train will not stop in Gaziantep; we will continue it to Şanlıurfa and from there to Habur.
We are talking about a rail-and-sea connection that reaches the Persian Gulf and goes as far as China.