TURKEY has secured $US 408m in financing from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) for maintenance and modernisation of its national network. According to local media, the funding will be used to build new lines, upgrade the existing network and purchase high-capacity maintenance machines.
Treasury and finance minister, Mehmet Şimşek, says in a post on social media that last year Turkey secured $US 15bn of external financing for rail projects.
Line reopening
Separately, Turkey plans to reopen a 350km section of line running parallel to the Syrian border this quarter, transport and infrastructure minister, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, has announced. Work is progressing on the 325km Karkamış - Nusaybin main line and on the 25km Mardin - Şenyurt branch.
The line, which was been mothballed due to the conflict in Syria, is undergoing extensive repairs to restore operations. Work includes renewal of sleepers and ballast, bridge and culvert strengthening, including the 800m Karkamış bridge, and station modernisation.
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