China is investing $60 billion to upgrade Türkiye’s railway network, aiming to make it a key trade route between China and Europe.
As reported by Tazabek on January 15, this investment challenges Russia’s role as a major transport hub and takes advantage of disruptions in Russian air transport routes.
Transforming Türkiye's Rail Infrastructure
The China-Europe Railway Express carried 1.9 million TEUs (shipping containers) in 2023, up from just 1,400 in 2011, according to Statista.
China’s investment in Türkiye includes electrified tracks, new routes, a bridge in Istanbul, and a high-speed rail link to Ankara.
Burak Dağlıoğlu of Invest in Türkiye confirmed the plans and said more companies will join future tenders to work on the projects.
Jayant Menon, a senior fellow at Singapore’s ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said these upgrades could make Türkiye a critical part of the China-Europe Railway Express system. However, he warned about potential risks:
“Türkiye is still a weak link. A single breakdown could disrupt the entire network,” Menon said.
Chinese company CRRC Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive, already active in Türkiye, demonstrated its expertise last year by introducing the country’s fastest subway train in Istanbul.
A Shift in Trade Routes
The upgrades aim to make Türkiye a major trade route between China and Europe, reducing the need for Russian transport routes. This fits into China’s Belt and Road Initiative, which seeks to connect Asia, Europe, and Africa with modern infrastructure.
At the same time, China’s state-owned oil companies are increasingly turning to the Middle East, Africa, and the Americas for crude oil, avoiding U.S. sanctions on Russia.
With this investment, China is strengthening Türkiye’s role as a key trade partner while reducing its reliance on Russia.
