Kalyon İnşaat Opens the Gateway to the Zangezur Corridor

Having delivered major projects such as Istanbul Airport, the world's foremost global transfer hub, the Northern Marmara Motorway, Türkiye's first Metrobus route and Marmaray, Kalyon İnşaat is now undertaking the 224 km Kars, Iğdır, Aralık and Dilucu Railway Project, a key part of the Zangezur Corridor. By providing an uninterrupted rail connection between Asia and Europe, the project will accelerate trade, strengthen the logistics sector and reduce costs.

Major Support for Regional and International Trade

The project is strategically important for Türkiye, Europe, Azerbaijan and Central Asia alike. Once completed, this key component of the east west axis of the Silk Road Economic Belt will reduce the current transit time from 18 days to 12, accelerating trade and lowering costs.

Designed as a signaled, electrified double track railway, the project will significantly increase transport capacity and shorten journey times. Offering transport in approximately half the time required by sea, the railway will serve as a strong logistics bridge from Central Asia to Europe. With annual capacity for 5.5 million passengers and 15 million tonnes of freight, the project will make trade faster, safer and less costly.

To be delivered with a workforce of approximately 10,000, the project will become a major driver of regional development by creating opportunities in logistics, industrialization, exports and employment. It will also make a substantial contribution to the region's socioeconomic development.

Contribution to the Current Account Balance

Türkiye carries only a very small proportion of its foreign trade, which exceeds USD 600 billion, by rail. Railways account for less than 1% of the country's foreign trade freight transport. With freight capacity of 15 million tonnes, this project will provide the infrastructure to increase that share from below 1% to as much as 4%.

Strengthening rail transport will also create opportunities to reduce Türkiye's freight costs, which totaled USD 14.7 billion in 2024.

A Model Project in Environmental Sustainability and Social Impact Management

Finalized through detailed assessments of route alternatives, transboundary impacts, climate and meteorology, geology and earthquake risk, soil and ground conditions, water quality and hydrology, air pollution, noise and vibration, traffic and transport, visual impacts, biodiversity, social components, socioeconomic conditions, cultural heritage and cumulative impacts, the project will set an example worldwide.

The project also stands out for environmental sustainability. Based entirely on electrification, it will reduce annual carbon emissions by approximately 500,000 tonnes compared with road transport. Electric trains will also help improve air quality, particularly in cities, by reducing emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides and volatile organic compounds.

Emphasizing the project's importance for Türkiye and its surrounding region, Kalyon İnşaat Chairman Murathan Kalyoncu said: “Our project will make a major contribution to international peace and prosperity by developing transport links between Türkiye, Azerbaijan and Armenia, strengthening economic cooperation and consolidating regional peace. Kalyon İnşaat is also delivering the 110.4 km railway and 104 km motorway projects under construction in our friendly and brotherly country Azerbaijan as part of the Zangezur Corridor. Providing the new transport connection between Türkiye and Azerbaijan, these projects will serve as a bridge between Türkiye, Nakhchivan and Azerbaijan. Designed as a signaled, electrified double track railway, the project will significantly increase transport capacity and shorten journey times. Offering transport in approximately half the time required by sea, it will serve as a strong logistics bridge from Central Asia to Europe. Environmental sustainability is also among our foremost priorities in every project. With international green financing totaling EUR 2.4 billion, our project will minimize environmental impacts through high energy efficiency. We will work in full alignment with Türkiye's climate commitments and the Sustainable Development Goals of Birleşmiş Milletler. At Kalyon İnşaat, we take great pride in supporting Türkiye's emergence as a global transport power through all the projects we have delivered and in creating a legacy for the future of our country and region.”

About the Project: Starting at approximately kilometer 12 of the Kars to Tbilisi line and extending to the Dilucu Border Gate, the planned railway route will include 7 stations: Subatan, Digor, Tuzluca, Iğdır, Karakoyunlu, Aralık and Dilucu. The project will run through the central and Digor districts of Kars Province and the Tuzluca, central and Karakoyunlu districts of Iğdır Province, ending in Aralık district at the border with Azerbaijan (Nakhchivan).