Freight travel on railways is about to receive a huge boost after the inauguration of the major new line.
The transport corridor will help move goods totalling some £500 million a year between Asia and Europe.
The new line will connect Istanbul, Turkey, with Budapest, Hungary, and will be operated by Pasifik Eurasia, a private company.
The network will cover 1,549 kilometres (962 miles) and pass through Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, and Hungary.
Trains will take four days to travel the route, which Turkey hopes will make it a major economic bridge between the two continents.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu hailed the new line at a ceremonial send-off at Halkalı station in Istanbul.
“We are excited to see Pacifik Eurasia become the first private operator of international rail freight,” the minister said.
“This route between Istanbul and Budapest will enhance our export capabilities and further cement Turkey’s role as a bridge between Asia and Europe.”
Pasifik Eurasia has committed to running 600 trains annually, carrying 750,000 tons of export goods valued at approximately €600 million (£500m).
The new line is just part of the Turkish government’s ambitious plans to develop its rail network.
By 2028, the government aims to expand its rail lines to 17,287 kilometres (10,742 miles), and by 2053, it plans to reach 28,590 kilometres (17,765 miles).
The expansion plan includes upgrading existing lines, building high-speed rail routes, and increasing the share of freight transported by rail from 5 percent to 22 percent.
“Our goal is to raise the volume of goods transported by rail from 32 million tons today to 448 million tons,” the minister said.
