Expression of Interest For Technical Support For Appraisal Of North Istanbul Rail Crossing (Inrail) Project Financing

Expression of Interest are invited for Technical Support for Appraisal of North Istanbul Rail Crossing (INRAIL) Project Financing The Istanbul North Rail Crossing Project (INRAIL or the Project) is a crucial infrastructure initiative aimed at enhancing Türkiyes connectivity across three major international trade corridors and improving transport services essential to boosting economic competitiveness and increasing productivity. It will significantly reduce logistics costs and improve transport services, thereby strengthening economic competitiveness and productivity. By shifting freight transport from road to rail, INRAIL will lower carbon emissions, supporting Türkiyes climate goals. The Project addresses the Marmaray undersea tunnel bottleneck, by providing a higher-capacity overland alternative to cross the Bosphorus Strait by rail, improving logistics network resilience and efficiency. It is expected to set the enabling conditions to attract private sector investment and to foster innovation in logistics services, and generate substantial employment opportunities through construction and increased freight volumes. INRAIL is set to transform Türkiyes role as a Eurasian logistics hub, driving economic growth and supporting sustainable transport solutions. Given the criticality of INRAIL for the Turkish economy and the need to complete the Project to fulfill international commitments, the Government of Türkiye (GoT) has decided to develop this multi-billion dollar project with public finance on a fast-track basis. The GoT sought and secured the support of six international financial institutions (IFIs), with the World Bank as the lead financier, to supplement domestic budget financing. The Project will finance the construction of a 122-km greenfield railway line that will serve as a bypass of the Istanbul Metropolitan Area and provide a high-capacity overland crossing across the Bosphorus. The proposed railway line will start at the Çayrova station on the Asian side and end at the Çatalca station on the European side, crossing the Bosphorus Strait using the existing track space allocated for this purpose on the YSS Bridge, at the Bosphorus northern end. The lines current alignment is almost entirely within the right-of-way of the existing North Marmara motorway, thereby minimizing the need for land acquisition. Furthermore, its technical design, which is intense in tunnels and viaducts, expressly minimizes environmental and social impacts and improves safety. The target line will be double-tracked, electrified, fully signalized, and mixed-used, designed to carry passengers and freight. Between Çayrova and Çatalca, the line will connect IST on the European and SAW on the Asian side to the urban and inter-city railway network, thus facilitating (i) domestic and international air and rail passenger connectivity, and (ii) urban mobility within the Istanbul Metropolitan Area. The World Bank is seeking to procure consultants to support the technical, economic, and financial appraisal of the project. Tender Link : https://wbgeprocure-rfxnow.worldbank.org/rfxnow/public/advertisement/5801/view.html