Bulgaria and Turkey are planning the launch of a bullet train between Sofia and Edirne, according to Suleyman Karaman, Director General and Chairman of the Board of the Turkish State Railways.

Karaman told the Bulgarian National Radio, BNR, transport ministers of the two countries recently held talks on the project, saying Turkey is ready with the project and is waiting for the Bulgarian side.

"Bulgarians are applying effort according to their possibilities. We insist on the realization of the project ASAP, because the high-speed train will facilitate transport between Turkey and Europe," the CEO says.

Karaman explained the deadline is estimated somewhere in the next five years, pointing out the bullet train launch between Edirne and Istanbul is coming in the very near future, by the end of 2011, with two thirds of the 280-km railroad already finished. The railroad will be used for both passenger and cargo trains.

It is part of Turkey's ambitious project to have a direct railway connection between Central Europe, Turkey and the Middle East.

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