Türkiye Advances Black Sea Rail Project Linking Five Provinces to Georgia

Türkiye is moving forward with plans for a major rail corridor along its Black Sea coast, aiming to connect five provinces with the Georgian border through a new high-capacity railway line.

According to Turkish media, the Samsun–Trabzon–Sarp Railway Project is designed to run along the Black Sea shoreline and form a strategic transport axis linking northern Türkiye with the Caucasus. The project includes 14 stations and is planned as a high-speed line capable of carrying both passengers and freight.

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu said the project would significantly ease congestion and reshape regional connectivity.

“The Samsun–Trabzon–Sarp Railway Project will provide substantial relief in both intercity and urban transport along the Black Sea coast. The project will establish a strategic rail corridor connecting Türkiye to the Caucasus and Central Asia. It will make a major contribution to both passenger and freight transport in the region, while significantly reducing existing road congestion.”

Uraloğlu said the line is planned with a total length of 513 kilometres and designed for trains capable of reaching speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour.

“Our railway line is planned to span 513 kilometres. It is designed for speeds of up to 250 kilometres per hour and will include 14 stations. Under the project, annual capacity is expected to reach 12 million passengers and 14 million tonnes of freight.”

The route is expected to extend eastward along the coast, linking major urban centres before reaching the Georgian border at Sarp.

“With this project, a continuous railway connection will be established to the Georgian border via Trabzon and Rize, the largest and fastest-growing cities in the Eastern Black Sea region.”

Officials say the project is intended to reduce pressure on the heavily trafficked Black Sea coastal highway while strengthening rail access in provinces with limited high-capacity transport options. The railway is also planned to integrate with the Erzincan–Trabzon line, improving links between the Black Sea coast and Türkiye’s interior.

The project is expected to be proposed for inclusion in Türkiye’s 2026 investment programme, with preparatory studies currently under way.