Simplify the following text for a Grade 8 native English-speaking person.
Original: The project was initiated in the 1960s , with the objective of providing a continuous 8750 m rail link between Singapore and Istanbul , Turkey , with possible further connections to Europe and Africa .
Simplified: The idea then was to have 8750 miles ( 14,000 km ) of rail link between Singapore and Istanbul , Turkey . Further connections to Europe and Africa were also considered .