photo: https://www.kocaelibarisgazetesi.com/haber/5986092/kartepenin-350-milyonluk-projesi-basliyor/Turkey’s Kocaeli Railport terminal acquires additional EBRD loan
Railport Terminal Isletmeleri was granted a USD 30 million loan by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) to finance a private domestic intermodal Kocaeli Railport Terminal in Turkey.
In 2019, the EBRD and Railport signed a USD 30 million loan agreement to implement the project. The Industrial and Commercial Bank of China – Turkey (ICBC Turkey) for its part is also providing financial support for the USD 86 million projects.
The Turkish logistics company Arkas and Duisport is responsible for the development of the railway port. It is planned that the first phase of the project will result in an increased capacity of 105,000 TEUs and 500,000 tons of general cargo annually at the new 26.5-hectare terminal.
The main goal of the project is to create an intermodal terminal in Turkey, which will facilitate freight transportation both within the country and between Europe and Asia, as well as between Europe, the Balkan countries, and Central Asia. It is important to note that to date, there are no intermodal terminals on the route connecting Turkey with Europe and Central Asia. The Baku – Tbilisi – Kars railway connection and the Marmaray Tunnel will turn the terminal into a logistics center directly connected to China – Europe trade routes.
Designed as a major industrial hub, Kocaeli Rail Terminal, located in the self-titled province, will serve industries in nine regions - Ankara, Bilecik, Bolu, Bursa, Duzce, Eskişehir, Sakarya, Yalova and Kocaeli itself. By switching to rail transport, the efficiency of transportation will increase and the negative impact on the environment, on the contrary, will be reduced.