With approx. 12 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area, Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey, mostly situated on the European continent. Traffic conditions in this densely populated city are getting worse while construction of a modern mass transit system is only progressing slowly.The first underground line dates back to the 19th century. This is the funicular subway called "Tünel" which opened in 1875. Still today this short line (573 m) is an important means of urban transport as it surmounts a difference in altitude of 60 m. Trains operate every 3.5 minutes and a trip takes 1.5 minutes. The upper station is linked to Taksim Square by a vintage tram. In the 1990's also a modern tram line was put into...
With approx. 12 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area, Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey, mostly situated on the European continent. Traffic conditions in this densely populated city are getting worse while construction of a modern mass transit system is only progressing slowly.The first underground line dates back to the 19th century. This is the funicular subway called "Tünel" which opened in 1875. Still today this short line (573 m) is an important means of urban transport as it surmounts a difference in altitude of 60 m. Trains operate every 3.5 minutes and a trip takes 1.5 minutes. The upper station is linked to Taksim Square by a vintage tram. In the 1990's also a modern tram line was put into service through the older parts of the city; this tram is gradually being extended to other parts of the city. Turkish State Railways operates a suburban service along the coast between Halkali and Sirkeci (30 km), and on the Asian side from Haydarpasa to Gebze in the south (42 km). Both suburban lines will be connected to the 14 km Bosphorus rail link currently under construction (now scheduled to open in 2013). Track gauge on all different rail systems is 1435 mm.In 1989 a light metro line (Hafif Metro - M1) was opened from Aksaray towards the western suburbs. Until 1995 it was extended to Yenibosna. After reaching the airport (Havalimani station) in 2002, it has a total length of 20 km with 18 stops. The line is totally segregated from other traffic without level crossings and runs underground for several km: (Aksaray - Ulubatli Topkapi, 3.1 km; Bakirköy - Bahçelievler, 1.8 km; Havalimani, 0.3 km. Platform length is 100 m. The Esenler branch is currently being extended and will become line M3.Aksaray - Otogar: 8.9 km; Otogar - Havalimani: 11.5 km; Otogar - Esenler: 1.5 km03 Sept 1989: Aksaray - Kartaltepe18 Dec 1989: Kartaltepe - Esenler31 Jan 1994: Otogar - Zeytinburnu07 Mar 1994: Zeytinburnu - Bakirköy25 Aug 1995: Bakirköy - Yenibosna15 Jan 1999: Bahçelievler station added20 Dec 2002: Yenibosna - Havalimani (Airport) Metro M2Construction of the first full metro line (M2) started in 1991 and the first section between Taksim and 4 Levent opened after some delays in September 2000. All stations have escalators (of a total of 87 escalators, 16 are at Taksim) and an elevator to provide full accessibility for the disabled. Initially there were 8 French-built 4-car trains in service (GEC-Alsthom). The metro was built by the cut-and-cover method to withstand earthquakes of up to magnitude 9. Stations look similar, although a different colour was chosen for each of them. Platform length is 180 m. Total length of the metro line is 20 km with 13 stations (2011).The northeastern extension is 5.5 km long and includes three new stations, whereas the 1.6 km from Taksim to Sishane is only the initial section of the route planned to reach the Yenikapi interchange. Taksim - Sishane is currently operated as a shuttle service.A 1-km branch from Sanayi to Seyrantepe was added in 2010, which will primarily serve the new Galatasaray football stadium to open in 2011.16 Sept 2000 - Taksim - 4 Levent30 Jan 2009 - 4 Levent - Atatürk Oto Sanayi 30 Jan 2009 - Taksim - Sishane02 Sept 2010 - Atatürk Oto Sanayi - Darüssafaka11 Nov 2010 - Sanayi Mah. - Seyrantepe branch23 May 2011 - Darüssafaka - HaciosmanMetro M4First metro line on the Asian side of Istanbul, departing from the ferry terminal at Kadiköy and running fully underground south to Kartal (22 km) Light Rail T4This line was opened in 2007, running from the edge of the old city towards the northern suburbs. The line is referred to as the Sultançiftligi-Edirnekapi line, it was initially 12.4 km long (with 5.8 km underground) and has some level crossings. Although it is officially classified as a 'tramway' (T4), it uses the same rolling stock as Metro M1. A 2.3 km extension was added in 2009, providing transfer to line M1 and the tramway.