Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing Tender Receives Bids for 4 Lots

Istanbul, Turkey – 11 November 2026 – Türkiye’s General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments (AYGM) has collected bids for the design and construction of infrastructure and superstructure works, including electrification, for the Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing Project.

The tender covers one of Türkiye’s most strategic railway investments: a new approximately 127 km railway line bypassing the Istanbul Metropolitan Area from the north and providing a high-capacity rail connection across the Bosphorus.

Financial bids will remain sealed and securely stored until the technical evaluation is completed.

What Is the Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing Project?

The Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing is a new double-track, electrified, fully signalled, mixed-use railway line designed for both passenger and freight transport.

Key facts at a glance:

• Total length: Approximately 127 km
• Route: Çayırova Station (Anatolian side) to Çatalca Station (European side)
• Bosphorus crossing: Via the existing railway corridor on the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge (Third Bosphorus Bridge)
• Type: Double-track, electric, fully signalled
• Use: Mixed passenger and freight traffic
• Annual freight capacity: 50 million tonnes

Once completed, the line will create a northern bypass for the Istanbul metropolitan area and strengthen Türkiye’s east-west rail freight corridor.

Who Financed the Project?

The project is financed by a consortium of international development finance institutions:

• World Bank
• Asian Development Bank (ADB)
• Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
• Islamic Development Bank (IsDB)
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
• OPEC Fund

Tender Results by Lot

AYGM divided the “Design and Construction of Infrastructure-Superstructure Works Including Electrification” tender into four lots. A total of 25 bids were submitted across all lots.

Lot 1: Çayırova – Sabiha Gökçen Airport – Kurtdoğmuş Corridor (28.49 km)

6 bidders:

1. Cengiz İnşaat – Kalyon İnşaat – Makyol İnşaat
2. Eze İnşaat – Aga Enerji
3. Fernas İnşaat – Gülermak Ağır Sanayi – Çelikler İnşaat
4. IC İçtaş – Webuild
5. Kolin İnşaat
6. Limak İnşaat – CRTG – CREEC

Lot 2: Kurtdoğmuş – Alibahadır Corridor (25.76 km)

8 bidders:

1. Cengiz İnşaat – Kalyon İnşaat – Makyol İnşaat
2. China Civil Engineering
3. Fernas İnşaat – Gülermak Ağır Sanayi – Çelikler İnşaat
4. IC İçtaş – Webuild
5. Kolin İnşaat
6. Limak İnşaat – CRTG – CREEC – Doğuş İnşaat
7. Özgün Yapı – Bayburt Grup
8. Rec Uluslararası İnşaat – Tekfen İnşaat

Lot 3: Alibahadır – Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge – Mithatpaşa Corridor (32.14 km)

6 bidders:

1. Cengiz İnşaat – Kalyon İnşaat – Makyol İnşaat
2. China Civil Engineering
3. Fernas İnşaat – Gülermak Ağır Sanayi – Çelikler İnşaat
4. IC İçtaş – Webuild
5. Limak İnşaat – CRTG – CREEC – Doğuş İnşaat
6. Rec Uluslararası İnşaat – Tekfen İnşaat

Lot 4: Mithatpaşa – Istanbul Airport – Çatalca Corridor (39.49 km)

5 bidders:

1. Cengiz İnşaat – Kalyon İnşaat – Makyol İnşaat
2. IC İçtaş – Webuild
3. Kolin İnşaat
4. Limak İnşaat – CRTG – CREEC – Doğuş İnşaat
5. Özgün Yapı – Bayburt Grup – Şenbay Madencilik

What Happens Next?

AYGM will now carry out the technical evaluation of the bids. Financial offers will not be opened until that stage is completed.

No contract award has been announced yet. Railway News will follow the evaluation process and publish updates when AYGM announces the next stage.

Why Does This Project Matter?

The Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing will:

• Relieve freight pressure on Istanbul’s urban rail network
• Provide a direct, high-capacity rail link between Asia and Europe via the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge
• Connect Sabiha Gökçen Airport and Istanbul Airport to the national rail network
• Support Türkiye’s Middle Corridor freight strategy with a 50 million tonne annual capacity

FAQ

When were bids collected for the Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing tender?

Bids were collected on 11 November 2026 by AYGM.

How long is the Istanbul Northern Railway Crossing?

The line will be approximately 127 km long, from Çayırova to Çatalca.

How will the railway cross the Bosphorus?

It will cross the Bosphorus using the existing railway corridor on the Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge.

How many bidders participated in the tender?

A total of 25 bids were submitted: 6 for Lot 1, 8 for Lot 2, 6 for Lot 3, and 5 for Lot 4.

Who is financing the project?

The project is financed by the World Bank, ADB, AIIB, IsDB, EBRD, and the OPEC Fund.

Source: Yatırımlar Dergisi / AYGM tender information