Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced that the Bandirma-Tekirdag Train Ferry Line, now operational, will provide an annual freight carrying capacity of 2.8 million tons. It was stated that the line will strengthen its position in international transportation.
Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced that the Bandirma-Tekirdag Train Ferry Line, which opened on May 9, provides nine times more cargo transportation capacity and that the new line offers an annual cargo carrying capacity of 2.8 million tons.
Minister Uraloglu made a statement about the train ferry, which enables rail freight transportation between Bandirma and Tekirdag over the Marmara Sea. In a written statement, Uraloglu reminded that the Bandirma-Tekirdag Train Ferry Line was put into service on May 9, 2025, and said, "With this line, we have put into service Turkiye’s second train ferry line after Lake Van. We have started train ferry transportation in the Marmara Sea with the Bandirma-Tekirdag Line."
'WE HAVE CREATED AN ALTERNATIVE ROUTE'
Recalling that before the Bandirma-Tekirdag Ferry Line was put into service, the Marmaray line was used for sea passage between the two continents for train freight transportation, Uraloglu said, "While the passage of flammable, explosive materials and open loads is not allowed on the Marmaray line, limited freight trains can only pass for 2-3 hours during maintenance intervals. The ferry, which has 800 meters of rail on its deck and a capacity of 37 wagons, has a planned average voyage duration of 4 hours. "The system will operate 24 hours a day, allowing multiple trips per day. Thus, we have created an alternative route for military and strategic transport, enabling transport without time or type of goods restrictions." he explained.
'35 THOUSAND TONS OF CARGO PASSED'
Minister Uraloglu stated that an uninterrupted, efficient and environmentally friendly logistics flow will be made possible thanks to the ferry connection that provides rail-sea integration over the Marmara Sea. "With this ferry line, which will strengthen Turkiye's position in international transportation, bring significant advantages to our exports and increase our logistics capacity, 21 trips have been made so far and 35 thousand tons of cargo have crossed the Marmara Sea."
Emphasizing that the new line also supports transport on the Middle Corridor route, Minister Uraloglu said, "With the project, we have created an important alternative in both international and domestic transport. Thanks to this line, for example, the Manisa-Kapikule route will be shortened from 1,119 kilometers to 445 kilometers, and the Kayacik-Kapikule route will be shortened from 1,119 kilometers to 445 kilometers." "The length of the Marmaray line is reduced from 1023 kilometers to 871 kilometers. Significant time and cost advantages will be achieved with the shortening of distances," he said.
Minister Uraloglu also stated that the average amount of cargo carried on the Marmaray line is around 300 thousand tons annually, and said, "The Bandirma-Tekirdag line offers an annual cargo carrying capacity of 2.8 million tons. We are supporting rail transportation in the Middle Corridor by providing the opportunity to carry 9 times more cargo compared to Marmaray with the new train ferry line."
