Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 26
By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend:
Transport systems of Turkey and Syria may be linked by Gaziantep-Kilis-Aleppo high-speed railway, which may be built after the situation in Syria stabilizes, a source in the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications of Turkey told Trend.
The high-speed railway’s construction was planned in late 2010, but it was postponed in connection with the subsequent events in Syria, according to the source.
Syria has been suffering from an armed conflict since March 2011, which, according to the UN, has so far claimed more than 500,000 lives.
Militants from various armed groups are confronting the Syrian government troops. The "Islamic State" (IS), the YPG (Kurdish People's Protection Units) and the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) are the most active terrorist groups in Syria.
The source noted that the construction project may be resumed once the Syrian conflict is settled, as preparation for the construction is being held.
Since June 2010, railway communication has been established between Turkey’s Gaziantep and Syria’s Aleppo.
Presently, the length of high-speed railway lines in Turkey is 1,213 kilometers.