Ispartakule - Cerkezkoy Railway Line

Overview
Project Summary Document
Environmental and Social Documentation
Procurement
Complaints

Overview

A sovereign loan of up to EUR 150 million to the Republic of Turkey. The Project will be implemented through the General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments ("AYGM"), The financing will be for the construction of a 67 km section of a new high-speed railway line from Ispartakule to Cerkezkoy including 200 km/h max design speed, double track, electrified railway and the required systems including ERTMS Level 1, power supply and auxiliaries.

The project is a part of the new high-speed railway (the Halkali - Kapikule railway line) between Istanbul and Kapikule near the Bulgarian border. The Halkali - Kapikule railway line will connect Turkey's railway network with the Trans European Transport Network ("TEN-T") through Bulgaria. The Project aims to facilitate: (a) enhancement of the sustainability and safety of the national transport system; (b) improved efficiency of the transport system; (c) shift to sustainable, accessible and inclusive modes of public transport at the national level.

The Halkali - Kapikule railway line is comprised of Phase 1 (Cerkezkoy-Kapikule) and Phase 2 which also has 2 sections (Halkali- Ispartakule and Ispartakule-Cerkezkoy).

Phase 1, which is under contruction, and the Halkali - Ispartakule section of Phase 2 will not be part of the Project financed by the Bank.

The project will be co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Project ID 51582

Status Disbursing

Location

Türkiye

Business Sector

Transport

Notice Type

State

Project timeline

Exploratory
Passed Concept Review
Passed Structure Review
Passed Final Review
Board Approved
Signed
Implementing
Completed

Company Contact Information

Serhat Koksal, Ph.D. (Director General) Ministry of Treasury & Finance, General Directorate of Foreign Economic Relations / Serdar Unsal (Deputy General Manager) Ministry of Transport & Infrastructure
dei_pfd@hmb.gov.tr // serdar.unsal@uab.gov.tr
+90 312 204 7357 + 90 312 203 1508
www.hmb.gov.tr // www.uab.gov.tr
Inonu Bulvari, No:36, 06510, Emek, Ankara // General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments, Hakki Turaylic Caddesi No:5 Emek, Cankaya, Ankara

Project ID 51582

Status Disbursing

Location

Türkiye

Business Sector

Transport

Notice Type

State

Approval Date

10 Nov 2021

Disclosure date

03 Jul 2020

Project description

The Halkali - Kapikule railway line is comprised of Phase 1 (Cerkezkoy-Kapikule) and Phase 2 which also has 2 sections (Halkali- Ispartakule and Ispartakule-Cerkezkoy).

Phase 1, which is under contruction, and the Halkali - Ispartakule section of Phase 2 will not be part of the Project financed by the Bank.

The project will be co-financed by the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

Project objectives

The project involves the development of safe, sustainable, low-carbon, and expedient passenger and freight rail transport between Turkey and the European Union to further facilitate trade via a new high-speed railway from Ispartakule to Cerkezkoy.

Transition impact

ETI Score:70

project's transition impact stems from the following key areas:

Well-governed: The project is expected to support the ongoing efforts towards the reorganisation of the Turkish State Railways and help improve its operational efficiency. Policy dialogue and technical assistance linked to the project are expected to support enhancement of the legal and regulatory framework in order to improve the commercial orientation of the railway sector, and create opportunities for enhanced private sector participation.
Integrated: The project will improve Turkey's domestic and cross-border connectivity . The project is aligned with the TEN-T and TRACECA initiatives, and will further support the enhancement of Eurasian trade corridors.

Client information

TURKEY SOVEREIGN

The borrower will be Republic of Turkey represented by Ministry of Treasury and Finance. General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments ("AYGM") will be the Project implementation agency. The Turkish State Railways ("TCDD") will be the operator of the Project, upon its completion.

EBRD Finance Summary

EUR 150,000,000.00

A loan of up to EUR 150 million.

Total project cost

EUR 640,048,000.00

The total project cost is estimated at EUR 640.0 million for an approximately 67 km railway line.

The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is providing parallel financing.

Additionality

The EBRD will promote sector reform and sustainability, bringing experience in terms of railway sector restructuring and private sector involvement. The project will leverage the Bank's ability to promote the commercialisation and liberalisation of the railway sector in Turkey.

Environmental & Social Summary

The Project is categorised A under EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy (2014) as it has the potential to have significant environmental and social (E&S) impacts associated with the construction and operation of a long-distance railway line. Benefits of the Project include enhanced transport links within the regions and between Turkey and the EU, creation of jobs during construction and reduced CO2 emissions associated with a shift of road traffic to rail.

Environmental and Social Due Diligence (ESDD) commenced with a review of the existing approved national Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which determined that a more comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) was required. An E&S disclosure package has been developed in accordance with the EBRD Performance Requirements (PRs) which includes:

an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Report (ESIA)
a Non-Technical Summary (NTS),
Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP),
a Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), and a Guide to Land Acquisition and Compensation for communities; and
a Stakeholder Engagement Plan (SEP).

This E&S disclosure package has been reviewed by the Bank and disclosed in English and Turkish for a period of 120 days prior to the EBRD's Board approval in line with the Bank's Access to Information Policy (AIP).

The route of the Project is generally aligned with that of the existing Ispartakule-Cerkezkoy railway with some deviations (e.g. for technical reasons or to avoid resettlement), particularly in the west and does not cross any national or internationally protected areas. The route primarily crosses habitats which are common and widespread in the region and in Turkey. The biodiversity and critical habitat assessment identified Priority Biodiversity Features (PBFs) including oak/hornbeam woodland (74.3ha) and critical habitat supporting six threatened, endemic plant species. The Project crosses two designated Important Bird Areas (IBAs), one of which is a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA): Impacts on the Terkos Basin IBA/KBA are expected to be limited since the Project crosses modified habitat, a significant distance from the wetland habitats supporting the IBA trigger species; the Project crosses the boundary of the Buyukcekmece Lake IBA, in habitats which are not considered to be of high value for the majority of trigger species except the white headed duck for which it is critical habitat. Acoustic and visual disturbance to bird species is not predicted to be significant and risk of collision of birds with the railway infrastructure and trains during operation will be mitigated by the installation of adapted fencing in areas of high risk. A Biodiversity Management Plan has been developed, which includes specific conservation actions aimed at achieving No Let Loss / Net Gain for PBFs and critical habitat and will be further developed and implemented by AYGM.

Noise and vibration impacts have the potential to be significant in certain locations during construction and noise impacts will be managed in line with the national and international standards and with good practice mitigation measures such as noise barriers and restriction on working times. Where residual impacts are predicted to be significant residents will be offered the opportunity to temporarily relocate during the construction activity at the cost of the Project.

Updated noise modelling has determined that during the operations phase, noise and vibration will be mitigated in accordance with IFC and Turkish standards through installation of noise barriers and through specific track design measures.

An assessment of rail and tunnel safety has been undertaken and will be managed in accordance with national and EU standards. A railway safety plan has been developed which includes detailed requirements for management of safety risks including fire safety; ventilation and emergency escape systems; seismic hazards. The final design and construction will be reviewed by an independent consultant to verify compliance with the required safety and technical requirements. An Emergency Response Framework has been prepared and will be developed into a detailed plan for construction and operation phases.

The Project will be fenced along its entire alignment with controlled access to people where needed through crossings which will pass either under or over the railway, which provides significant mitigation of community health and safety impacts. An occupational health and safety plan will be developed for construction and operation phases. AYGM and TCDD , their contractor and sub-contractors will also be required to manage potential impacts to workers and communities including labour rights of construction workers and their working conditions, health and safety risks to workers and communties and will establish and implement an internal grievance mechanism in line with the Bank requirements. The Project will also identify and address any gender issues, including gender based violence and harrassment risks (GBVH) to workers and communities and passengers during operations phaseand will develop and implement a stand-alone gender equality and GBVH action plan.

The total area of land affected by the Project is estimated at 503 ha, which will be acquired on a permanent basis for the construction and operation of the railway and associated infrastructure (cuttings, embankments, sidings etc). Approximately 47% of the land is in private ownership covering 1050 parcels and the majority of these are used for agriculture. The Project is estimated to result in physical displacement of 59 households. A RAP and associated Guide to Land Acquisition and Compensation has been developed to define mitigation, compensation and livelihood restoration measures in line with national law and the Bank requirements (PR 5). Detailed compensation, assistance and livelihood restoration measures have been included in the RAP with specific measures to support vulnerable people affected by the project. The implementation of RAP will be verified through internal and external monitoring activities and a RAP completion audit.

Consultations have been undertaken to inform the ESIA and RAP. A SEP has been prepared defining engagement activities during the Project lifecycle including alternative engagement approaches to mitigate risks related to Covid-19 in line with national authorities and WHO guidance. A grievance mechanism has been established for external stakeholders in line with the Bank requirements. During the disclosure period, consultation meetings, including dedicated meetings for women, were held within the Project area and staakeholders also submitted written and verbal feedback on the Project. No material updates to the ESIA are required in response to the feedback received. The main areas of feedback included highlighting project benefits such as opportunities for employment and improved connectivity and various queries relating to: land acquisition and compensation, including timing of crop valuations; requests for modifications to or provision of additional crossing points over/under the railway; and regarding the possibility of providing additional stations to improve local connectivity. To respond to stakeholder feedback, AYGM will need to provide clarifications to affected people on the timing of crop valuation and compensation, review crossing requirements during the detailed design and further communicate to stakeholders regarding the choice of stations on the high-speed line. AYGM will continue to undertake further stakeholder engagement as outlined in the SEP.

The scope of the ESIA includes the Project and the railway section between Halkali-Ispartakule (which is not financed by the Bank) which is an associated facility and will be implemented in accordance with national and Bank E&S requirements as described in the ESIA. An ESMP has been prepared including the mitigation measures and roles and responsibilities between AYGM, construction contractor and TCDD. The ESMP also establishes a defined process for managing any Project changes e.g. during the detailed design. The Construction Contractor will develop a set of environmental and social management plans to implement the mitigation measures identified as part of ESIA/ESMP in line with the Bank requirements. An Environmental and Social Action Plan (ESAP) has been developed and disclosed and the project will be monitored regularly by independent Environmental and Social consultants to ensure compliance with the ESAP and the Performance Requirements.

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

The Bank has provided technical assistance to develop and implement the Project in accordance with the Bank's requirements. This technical cooperation support for the project includes:

Review of the legal and regulatory framework for the liberalisation of Turkish railway sector.
Assistance in undertaking technical due diligence.
Assistance in undertaking Environmental and Social Impact Assessment.
Assistance in tendering and implementation of the Project.

The TC programme is subject to further amendments and confirmation. Additionally the EBRD will promote sector reform and sustainability, bringing experience in terms of railway sector restructuring and private sector involvement. The project will leverage the Bank's ability to promote the commercialisation and liberalisation of the railway sector in Turkey.

Company Contact Information

Implementation summary

PSD last updated

20 Oct 2021

Understanding transition

Further information regarding the EBRD’s approach to measuring transition impact is available here.

Business opportunities

For business opportunities or procurement, contact the client company.

For business opportunities with the EBRD (not related to procurement) contact:

Tel: +44 20 7338 7168
Email: projectenquiries@ebrd.com

For state-sector projects, visit EBRD Procurement:

Tel: +44 20 7338 6794
Email: procurement@ebrd.com

General enquiries

Specific enquiries can be made using the EBRD Enquiries form.

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

The ESP and its associated Environmental and Social Requirements (ESRs) set out the ways in which the EBRD implements its commitment to promoting “environmentally sound and sustainable development”. The ESP and the ESRs include specific provisions for clients to comply with the applicable requirements of national laws on public information and consultation, and to establish a grievance mechanism to receive and facilitate resolution of stakeholders’ concerns and grievances, in particular, about the environmental and social (E&S) performance of the client and the project. Proportionate to the nature and scale of a project’s environmental and social risks and impacts, the EBRD also requires its clients to disclose information, as appropriate, about the risks and impacts of projects or to undertake meaningful consultation with stakeholders and consider and respond to their feedback.

More information on the EBRD’s practices in this regard is set out in the ESP.

Integrity and compliance

The EBRD's Office of the Chief Compliance Officer (OCCO) promotes good governance and ensures that the highest standards of integrity are applied to all of the Bank's activities in accordance with international best practice. Integrity due diligence is conducted on all Bank clients to ensure that projects do not present unacceptable integrity or reputational risks to the Bank. The EBRD believes that identifying and resolving issues in the project assessment and approval stages is the most effective means of ensuring the integrity of Bank transactions. OCCO plays a key role in these protective efforts andhelps to monitor integrity risks in projects post-investment.

OCCO is further responsible for investigating allegations of fraud, corruption and misconduct in EBRD-financed projects. Anyone, either within or outside the Bank, who suspects fraud or corruption should submit a written report to the Chief Compliance Officer by email to compliance@ebrd.com. OCCO will follow-up all matters reported. It will review all matters reported. Reports can be made in any language of the Bank or of the Bank's countries of operation. The information provided must be made in good faith.

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

The AIP, which entered into force on 1 January 2025, sets out how the EBRD discloses information and consults with its stakeholders to promote better awareness and understanding of its strategies, policies and operations. Please visit the Access to Information Policy page to find out what information is available from the EBRD website.

Specific requests for information can be made using the EBRD enquiries form.

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

If efforts to address environmental, social or public disclosure concerns with the Client or the Bank are unsuccessful (for example, through the client’s project-level grievance mechanism or through direct engagement with Bank management), individuals and organisations may seek to address their concerns through the EBRD’s Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM).

IPAM independently reviews project issues that are believed to have caused (or to be likely to cause) harm. The purpose of the mechanism is: to support dialogue between project stakeholders to resolve environmental, social and public disclosure issues; to determine whether the Bank has complied with its Environmental and Social Policy or the project-specific provisions of its Access to Information Policy; and where applicable, to address any existing non-compliance with these policies, while preventing future non-compliance by the Bank.

Please visit the Independent Project Accountability Mechanism webpage to find out more about IPAM and its mandate and how to submit a Request for review. Alternatively, contact IPAM by email at ipam@ebrd.com for guidance and more information on IPAM and how to submit a request.

Project ID 51582

Status Disbursing

Location

Türkiye

Disclosure date

01 Jun 2021

Project description

The Ispartakule- Çerkezköy Railway Project is being developed by the General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments (AYGM). The Project is a part of the new high-speed railway (the Halkali - Kapikule railway line) between Istanbul and Kapikule near the Bulgarian border. The Halkali - Kapikule railway line will connect Turkey’s railway network with the Trans European Transport Network (“TEN-T”) through Bulgaria and will, therefore, set a milestone for the railway connectivity between Turkey and the EU countries.

The Project involves the construction of a 67 km section of new high-speed railway line from Ispartakule to Çerkezköy: 200 km/h max design speed, double track, electrified railway and the required systems including ERTMS Level 1, power supply and auxiliaries. Halkali –Kapikule railway line is composed of Phase 1 (Çerkezköy-Kapikule) and Phase 2 which also has 2 sections (Halkali-Ispartakule and Ispartakule-Çerkezköy).

Phase 1 (which is under construction) and Halkali – Ispartakule section of Phase 2 will not be part of the Project financed by the Bank.

ESIA Disclosure Package

The Project is categorised “A” under EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy (2014) as it has the potential to have significant environmental and social (E&S) impacts associated with the construction and operation of a long-distance railway line. A comprehensive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) and associated documents have been developed, followed by their public disclosure for a minimum period of 120 days.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions for public gatherings the Client has revised the stakeholder engagement activities for the disclosure period and alternative engagement approaches have been identified in the SEP, which has been disclosed by the Client and the Bank.

Environmental and Social Action Plan: English | Turkish

Non-Technical Summary: English | Turkish

Stakeholder Engagement Plan: Turkish | English

Resettlement Action Plan and GLAC: English | Turkish

ESIA Package English

ESIA Package Turkish

Full ESIA availability

Full ESIA documentation

General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments
Hakkı Turayliç Caddesi No:5 Emek Çankaya Ankara

and

EBRD Resident Office, Istanbul Resident Office, Büyükdere Caddesi, 185 Kanyon Ofis Binası, Kat: 2, Levent, 34394 Istanbul, Turkey Tel: +90 212 386 1100

and

Client website

Enquiries

Environmental or social enquiries

Hotline of AYGM: 0312 203 10 00
İrfan Kurnaz, Phone: 03122031740; E-mail: irfan.kurnaz@uab.gov.tr
Website

This document was prepared at an early stage of project development, before consideration by the EBRD Board of Directors. Details of a project may change following disclosure.

Environmental and Social Impact Assessments and ESIA summaries are produced by project sponsors, and the EBRD makes them available without any comment or implied endorsement. Any views expressed or statements made in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment or the ESIA Summary do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of the EBRD.

Last updated 25 June 2014

Selected procurement notices related to this project may be shown below. Further procurement opportunities related to this and other projects, if available, maybe be viewed in the EBRD Procurement Portal.

The EBRD's Environmental and Social Policy (ESP), Access to Information policy (AIP) and Project Accountability Policy (PAP) enable sound and sustainable development in its projects. The Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM) deals with complaints about environmental, social and disclosure matters related to the Bank’s investments.

No complaints about this project have been made so far.

Our story

How we invest in changing lives

What we offer for businesses

Search

Ispartakule - Cerkezkoy Railway Line

Overview

Project timeline

Company Contact Information

Project description

Project objectives

Transition impact

Client information

EBRD Finance Summary

Total project cost

Additionality

Environmental & Social Summary

Technical Cooperation and Grant Financing

Company Contact Information

Implementation summary

PSD last updated

Understanding transition

Business opportunities

General enquiries

Environmental and Social Policy (ESP)

Integrity and compliance

Access to Information Policy (AIP)

Independent Project Accountability Mechanism (IPAM)

Project description

ESIA Disclosure Package

Full ESIA availability

Enquiries