Turkish president unveils high-speed train project linking Ankara, Black Sea, Georgia

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has officially announced the commencement of the highly anticipated Samsun-Trabzon-Sarpi high-speed railway project, which will create a vital railway link between Ankara, the Black Sea region, and neighboring Georgia.

The announcement was made during a congress of Türkiye's ruling party in Rize, marking a significant step forward in regional connectivity, Caliber.Az reports per Georgian media.

The new railway will connect several cities along Türkiye's northern coast, including Ordu, Giresun, Trabzon, Rize, and Artvin, starting from the city of Samsun. The construction of the railway is set to begin shortly, with plans to transform transportation in these regions.

“We are linking the cities of Trabzon, Rize, and Artvin with a high-speed railway, thereby establishing Rize's first-ever railway connection,” Erdogan said during his speech, directing his comments to Türkiye's transport minister.

The project promises to modernize the transportation infrastructure in the Black Sea region, enhancing both domestic and international connectivity.

The railway project, which also includes a link to Georgia through the Sarpi border, is part of Türkiye's broader strategy to improve transportation networks and foster stronger regional ties.

At the end of last year, the Turkish government unveiled plans for the 509-kilometer Samsun-Sarpi railway, which is expected to serve approximately 10 million people. Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu confirmed that construction is set to commence soon.

Once completed, the high-speed railway is expected to significantly reduce travel time between these key cities and improve trade and tourism between Türkiye and Georgia. 

By Vafa Guliyeva