Pehlivanköy–Svilengrad railway

4 ft 8+1⁄2 in) standard gaugeElectrification25 kV 50 HzOperating speed100 km/h (62 mph)

Route map

Legend Istanbul-Pythio railway to Istanbul 0 km 0 mi Pehlivanköy Kırklareli Edirne provincial border Istanbul–Pythio railway Ana Creek 4.3 km 2.7 mi Sazlımalkoç 11.6 km 7.2 mi Bahçıvanova 12.9 km 8 mi Kırcasalih D.550 20.1 km 12.5 mi Şerbettar 26.2 km 16.3 mi Abalar Sazlı Creek Istanbul–Kapıkule railway 37.4 km 23.2 mi Tayyakadın TMO Edirne wye 46.7 km 29 mi Edirne 49.3 km 30.6 mi Edirne Şehir Tunca D.100 O-3 66.5 km 41.3 mi Kapıkule Turkey Bulgaria border A 4 Maritsa motorway I-8 70.6 km 43.9 mi Kapitan Andreevo Lozenski pat Maritza Alexandroupoli–Svilengrad railway I-80 86.5 km 53.7 mi Svilengrad wye Kalotina–Svilengrad railway This diagram: view talk edit

The Edirne cut-off is a 80 km (50 mi) long rail line from Pehlivanköy, Turkey to Svilengrad, Bulgaria. The line was built in 1971 by the Turkish State Railways in order to avoid crossing the border with Greece twice, on the former Oriental Railway's main line, in order to get to Edirne. The Hellenic Railways Organisation (OSE) also built a cut-off from Neo Vyssa to Marasia in the same year. These two new rail lines led to the abandonment of the former CO main line in to Edirne Karaağaç Railway Station.

Route description

From Pehlivanköy, the line follows the line to Pythio for about 5 km before turning North West to go to Edirne in almost straight line across flat lands. Near Edirne, the line is on the bank of the Meriç River (Maritsa), squeezed between the river itself and the old city. The line goes over the Tunca (Tundzha) river and then goes in almost straight line again to Kapıkule railway station. the Bulgarian border is crossed after Kapıkule and before Kapitan Andrevo. Finally, the line will cross the Maritsa to enter Svilengrad station.

References

See also

• Istanbul–Pythio railway