Rail Renaissance: EU Borders Modernise While the Hejaz Railway Plans a Comeback

Rail is back at the centre of geopolitics. While Bulgaria and Turkey modernise their border routes, Jordan and Syria look to revive a historic line.

Bulgarian Transport Minister Grozdan Karadjov and his Turkish counterpart Abdulkadir Uraloğlu agreed to modernise and expand the cross-border railway link between the two countries. The main line from Turkey to the EU border will be upgraded by the end of the year. The goal is to reduce passenger train times between Istanbul and the Bulgarian border from 4 hours to 1.5 hours, and freight trains from 8.5 hours to 3.5 hours.

🇹🇷🇧🇬 | İstanbul'dan Bulgaristan'ın Burgas kentine düzenli deniz otobüsü seferleri tekrar başlıyor.

24 Haziran’dan itibaren İstanbul’dan Bulgaristan’ın sahil kenti Burgas’a haftada üç gün düzenli deniz otobüsü seferleri yapılacak. Yolculuk yaklaşık 5 saat sürecek. pic.twitter.com/3D89qeIMU4

— Balkan Futbolu (@BalkanFutbolu) June 2, 2025

Electrification, TEN-T, and EU Financing

Work will also begin on electrifying the 39 km section between Yambol and Elhovo, as well as constructing a new 32 km line from Elhovo to Lesovo, where a new rail border crossing with Turkey will be established. The 71 km corridor will include three stations and is designed to accommodate passenger trains at speeds of 160 km/h and freight at 120 km/h.

The line forms part of the TEN-T network, with the EU financing the feasibility study. This implies future EU co-financing of construction. The new crossing will ease pressure on the existing Svilengrad–Kapıkule link. Rail connectivity from Europe into Turkey is also attracting interest from Jordan and Syria. On 11 September 2025, deputy ministers from Turkey, Syria, and Jordan signed a memorandum on the importance of regional rail and port infrastructure for connection with Europe.

Plans for the Revival of the Historic Hejaz Railway

The three states specifically discussed reviving the historic Hejaz Railway, built under the Ottoman Empire between 1900 and 1908 to support trade and pilgrim travel to Mecca. The line ran from Turkey through Damascus and Amman to Medina in today’s Saudi Arabia.

The Hejaz Railway was only fully operational for twelve years before being fragmented by World War I fighting. Its revival would extend rail infrastructure to the Red Sea, significantly boosting the capacity of Jordan’s port of Akaba. A direct rail link between the Red Sea and Turkey — and, by extension, Europe — would be a game-changer in logistics.

All three countries will begin preparations with technical feasibility studies and operational parameters. Jordan has offered Syria technical support for locomotive maintenance. As an initial step in rebuilding ties, Jordan and Syria plan to reopen the Bab Al Hawa–Cilvegözü border crossing for road transport after thirteen years. Turkey has pledged to rebuild 30 km of the destroyed line on Syrian territory.

Railways as a Symbol of Middle Eastern Cooperation

Following the fall of Assad’s regime, Arab states in the Middle East have increased cooperation, leading to a decline in the illicit arms and narcotics trade. Joint operations and airstrikes have systematically disrupted smuggling networks.

The Hejaz project now symbolises both continuity with the Ottoman past and a practical step toward renewed regional integration.

Sources: Turkish Minute, The Hejaz Railway