Tests begin in the first phase: Time from Istanbul will be reduced to 1.5 hours

Edirne Governor Yunus Sezer stated that test drives will begin in the Edirne section of the Halkalı-Kapıkule High Speed Train Project in a short time.
Sezer told journalists that 92 percent physical progress has been achieved in the construction of infrastructure, superstructure and railway maintenance technical elements (EST) in the Çerkezköy-Kapıkule (153 kilometers) section of the project. Stating that the work on the superstructures in the Edirne section of the project is continuing rapidly, Sezer said, "Trial and test drives will be carried out in this section soon." he said. Governor Sezer added that the work in the city center is almost completed.
•⁠  ⁠About the project
Halkalı-Kapıkule Railway Project, which will provide Turkey's high-standard railway connection with European countries, consists of 3 stages: the 153-kilometer Kapıkule-Çerkezköy stage, the 67-kilometer Çerkezköy-Ispartakule stage and the 8.4-kilometer Ispartakule-Halkalı stage.
The work on the 153-kilometer Çerkezköy-Kapıkule line, which is the first phase of the project, has almost come to an end, and 92 percent progress has been achieved.
With the project, which will connect Edirne to Istanbul with a high-speed train network and whose construction started in June 2019, travel times between Halkalı and Kapıkule will decrease from 4 hours to 1 hour 30 minutes for passenger trains and from 8 hours 30 minutes to 3.5 hours for freight trains.
It is stated that upon completion of the project, the section of the Silk Railway route passing through Turkey will constitute one of the most important links forming the European connection.
With the project, a new high-speed train line will be built on a 229-kilometer route, suitable for a speed of 200 kilometers per hour, double-track, electric and signaled, and capable of carrying both freight and passengers.
https://www.ekonomist.com.tr/haberler/ilk-etabinda-testler-basliyor-istanbul-dan-sure-1-5-saate-inecek-56380