Antalya Transport Investments 2026: Where Does the Konyaaltı–Varsak Rail Project Stand?

Transport is as decisive as price and view when choosing a home in Antalya. The distance between the west and east of the city is long, the number of vehicles is high and the rail network is limited. That is why the Metropolitan Municipality's rail and road investments are closely watched by anyone deciding which neighbourhood to live in. Based on statements by municipal officials and press reports during 2026, this article summarises where the Konyaaltı–Varsak rail project and other transport work stand.

January 2026: the 4th-stage rail line and the transport master plan

At a workshop on the Sustainable Urban Transport Master Plan (ASKUP) in January 2026 (Ekonomi Gazetesi, 18 January 2026), Antalya Metropolitan Municipality Acting Mayor Büşra Özdemir shared the following:

• The Konyaaltı–Varsak 4th-stage rail line is 18 km long; permits have been obtained and the tender held. Work is said to start promptly once the project enters the investment programme.
• The Lara–Kundu 5th-stage line is 22 km long and has received preliminary approval from the Ministry of Transport.
• Antalya has 600,165 vehicles, which Özdemir described as the highest number relative to population in Türkiye.
• So far 148 smart junctions, 106 additional public transport vehicles and the completed 3rd-stage rail system have been delivered.
• For the 2040 ASKUP, correspondence was held with 168 institutions and more than 9,000 surveys were carried out.

These figures are statements by a municipal official; we have not verified them independently and pass them on with their source.

February 2026: project details

According to Railway Gazette on 17 February 2026, the Konyaaltı–Varsak 4th-stage line is 18 km long, about 6 km of it in tunnel at a depth of 30 metres, with 18 stations. The project is reported to have been approved in mid-January 2026, with work due to begin in 2026 and finish at the end of 2028. The same report gives a total budget of 23 billion lira and says the municipality plans to cover much of the financing with foreign loans. Another industry report on 27 February 2026 (Trackopedia) puts the same project at about 443.6 million euros and refers to approval by the Antalya City Council. Because of exchange-rate changes, the lira and euro amounts may not match one to one; for the exact figure, look to the municipality's official statements.

April 2026: investment programme and financing

In an Ekonomi Gazetesi report on 18 April 2026, Özdemir said the project was not in the 2025 Presidential investment programme but had been added to the 2026 programme with a budget of 271 million euros, and that financing work had begun. The project is to be carried out with the municipality's own resources and financing. The report also said six grade-separated junctions, five in Konyaaltı and one in Kepez, are part of the line. Note that some reports give the line's length as 15 km and others as 18 km; the difference may come from how stages and scope are defined.

July 2026: final stage of financing

According to DHA on 13 July 2026, Özdemir said the 4th-stage rail project was nearing the final stage of financing, and that six junctions would be built once it starts. In the same speech she shared a target of adding 150 new buses to the city by the end of 2026; it is worth noting that this is a target, not a completed purchase. A combined asphalt, landscaping and lighting project on Yüzüncü Yıl Boulevard and the widening of Gazi Boulevard on the city's east-west axis were also among the items reported.

Photo: Usien / CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons (an example of public transport in Manavgat; the picture does not show central Antalya)

What has and has not been done?

As of early October 2026, when this article was prepared, we found no verifiable official announcement showing that construction on the 4th-stage line has actually begun. Approval, tender and financing steps are mentioned; the timetable, such as the end-2028 target, depends on the start of the project and is therefore a forward-looking goal. It would not be right today to base a price or yield calculation on "the line opens in 2028" when buying a flat; investments can be delayed and routes or scope can change.

There is also criticism: a report by the Antalya City Council published in 2024 (soL Haber) drew attention to issues such as groundwater levels and flood risk. That is one side's view; the municipality's responses and any current revisions of the project should be followed separately.

What does it mean for home hunters?

It is wise to be cautious when linking transport investment to a housing decision:

• Areas along the route: For people living on the axes between Konyaaltı and Varsak, rail may eventually ease daily travel. We discuss the differences between areas in our Lara or Konyaaltı comparison.
• The eastern axis: The Lara–Kundu 5th-stage line is still at preliminary approval. See our Kundu and Aksu coast guide.
• Living without a car: What is possible today with the existing tram and bus network is covered in our guide to living without a car and our 15-minute city article.
• Around the airport: For the airport expansion and tram link, see our Altınova and Aksu article.

If you want to see current developments, you can also look at our projects page.

Where to follow developments

The safest way to follow the line's status, tender and groundbreaking news is through the official announcements of Antalya Metropolitan Municipality, relevant council decisions and statements by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. Figures on news sites may be rounded or from different dates.

Conclusion

According to what has been announced during 2026, the Konyaaltı–Varsak rail project has passed approval, tender and financing steps; in July 2026 financing was said to be nearing its final stage. The target completion is the end of 2028 and the start of actual construction has not been verified. When deciding on a home, it is healthier to treat transport investment as an important factor but not a firm timetable. You are welcome to write to us with any questions.

Related reading: our post-season Antalya property analysis and the Antalya Airport August 2026 passenger data.

This content is for general information only and is not legal or financial advice. Please consult a specialist before making your decision.

Sources: Ekonomi Gazetesi (18 January 2026 and 18 April 2026), Railway Gazette (17 February 2026), Trackopedia (27 February 2026), DHA (13 July 2026); statements by Antalya Metropolitan Municipality officials.

Cover photo: Maksym Kozlenko / CC BY-SA 4.0 — Wikimedia Commons (the nostalgic tram in central Antalya).