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With approx. 15 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area, Istanbul is the biggest city in Turkey, mostly situated on the European continent. At the turn of the millennium, Istanbul had hardly any rail-based transport, but in the past decades, the city's urban rail system has been expanded massively, with more lines and extensions under construction or planned.

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. In Oct 2013, the 13 km Bosphorus underwater rail link (Marmaray) opened, which will ultimately link the suburban rail lines operated by Turkish State Railways. 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 had a total length of 20 km with 18 stops. The Esenler branch was eventually extended to Kirazli and became branch line M1b. 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; Esenler - Kirazli ~ 4.5 km). Platform length is 100 m.

Yenikapi - Otogar: 8.4 km; Otogar - Havalimani: 11.6 km; Otogar - Kirazli: 5.5 km = 25.5 km

03 Sept 1989: Aksaray - Kartaltepe
18 Dec 1989: Kartaltepe - Esenler
31 Jan 1994: Otogar - Zeytinburnu
07 Mar 1994: Zeytinburnu - Bakirköy
26 July 1995: Bakirköy - Ataköy
25 Aug 1995: Ataköy - Yenibosna
15 Jan 1999: Bahçelievler station added
20 Dec 2002: Yenibosna - Havalimani (Airport)
14 June 2013: Esenler - Kirazli (M1b branch, 4.8 km)
09 Nov 2014: Aksaray - Yenikapi (0.8 km)

Construction of the first full metro line (M2) started in 1991 and the first section between Taksim and Levent opened after some delays in September 2000. All stations have escalators and an elevator to provide full accessibility for the disabled. The original section was built by the cut-and-cover method to withstand earthquakes up to magnitude 9. Stations look similar, although a different colour was chosen for each of them. Platform length is 180 m.

Later, the line was extended in several stages northeast to Haciosman, while a 1-km branch from Sanayi to Seyrantepe was added in 2010, which primarily serves the new Galatasaray football stadium opened in 2011.

The 1.6 km southwestern extension from Taksim to Sishane was initially operated as a shuttle service until the Yenikapi extension, which includes a purpose-built bridge over the Golden Horn (Haliç), was completed in 2014.

Total length of the line M2 is 23.5 km with 16 stations (2014).

16 Sept 2000: Taksim - Levent
24 Oct 2000: Levent - 4. Levent
30 Jan 2009: 4. Levent - Atatürk Oto Sanayi
30 Jan 2009: Taksim - Sishane
02 Sept 2010: Atatürk Oto Sanayi - Darüssafaka
11 Nov 2010: Sanayi Mah. - Seyrantepe branch
29 April 2011: Darüssafaka - Haciosman
15 Feb 2014: Sishane - Yenikapi (3.5 km, including Golden Horn bridge)
16 Mar 2014: Vezneciler station added

14 June 2013: Kirazli - MetroKent (Basaksehir)
22 Nov 2013: Ikitelli Sanayi - Olimpiyat > transferred to line M9 on 29 May 2021
08 Apr 2023: Basaksehir MetroKent – Kayasehir Merkez (6.2 km)
10 Mar 2024: Kirazli – Bakirköy Sahil (8.4 km)

- 25.8 km
- 180 m long platforms for 8-car trains

First metro line on the Asian side of Istanbul, departing from the ferry terminal at Kadiköy and running fully underground south via Kartal to Sabiha Gökcen Airport:

17 Aug 2012: Kadiköy - Kartal (22 km)
29 Oct 2013: Ayrilikcesme station added
10 Oct 2016: Kartal - Tavsantepe (4.5 km)
02 Oct 2022: Tavsantepe – Sabiha Gökcen Havalimani (7.4 km)

- 26.5 km, driverless metro line on the Asian side of Istanbul, connects with Marmaray

15 Dec 2017: Üsküdar - Yamanevler (10.5 km)
21 Oct 2018: Yamanevler - Çekmeköy (9.5 km)
16 Mar 2024: Çekmeköy – Samandira Merkez (6.5 km)

19 April 2015: Levent - Bogazici Üniversitesi (Hisarüstü)

- 3.3 km, basically single-track with passing loops at intermediate stations, operated with two shuttle trains

28 Oct 2020: Mahmutbey – Sisli-Mecidiyeköy
02 Jan 2023: Sisli-Mecidiyeköy – Yildiz

- 19.2 km
- 17 stations (2 of which are elevated)
- driverless line

06 Jan 2023: Bostanci – Parseller

- 14.3 km
- 13 stations
- driverless line
- cross-city line on the Asian side

22 Nov 2013: Olimpiyat – Ikitelli Sanayi (as a branch of line M3)
29 May 2021: [Olimpiyat –] Ikitelli Sanayi – Bahariye (~ 2 km)
18 Mar 2024: Bahariye - Ataköy (~ 12 km)

17.2 km
14 stations

22 Jan 2023: Kagithane – Kargo Terminali (34 km)
29 Jan 2024: Kagithane – Gayrettepe (3.5 km)
19 Mar 2024: Kargo Terminali – Arnavutköy Hastane (8.5 km)

This 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.

10 Sept 2007: Sehitlik - Mescid-i Selam
18 Mar 2009: Sehitlik - Topkapi

The present modern tram line T1 (18.2 km) was opened in 1992 between Sirkeci and Topkapi and subsequently extended from both ends. Temporarily operated with high-floor vehicles (like those in service on M1), it is now served by Bombardier Flexity Swift low-floor trams. Line T2, which had opened in September 2006 from Zeytinburnu to Bagcilar, was connected to T1 in early 2011, and the single line is operated with low-floor vehicles, both from Bombardier and Alstom (Citadis).

Line T2 is the heritage tram line (1.5 km) which connects the top station of the Tünel Funicular to Taksim Square; opened in 1990, single-track.

Nostalgic Moda tramway opened in 2003: single-track 2.6 km circular line on the Asian side of Istanbul in Kadiköy. Trams run in a clockwise direction stopping at Kadiköy (ferry and M4) - Iskele Camii - Çarsi - Altiyol - Bahariye - Kilise - Moda Ilkokulu - Moda - Rizapasa - Mühürdar - Damga Sokak before returning to Kadiköy.

Modern tram line along the Golden Horn north to Alibeyköy using Alstom’s APS ground-power-supply system like in Bordeaux; at the southern end, interchange with the older tram T1 at Eminönü:

01 Jan 2021 Cibali – Alibeyköy Cep Otogari (9 km): official inauguration, passenger service from 04 Jan 2021
30 Aug 2023: Cibali – Eminönü (0.9 km)

Modern funicular subway opened in June 2006: about 600 m long, difference in altitude of 60 m.

Funicular subway opened in 1875: on its 573 m route it negotiates a difference in altitude of 60 m.

A 750 m peoplemover was opened in 2019 to link the new development of Vadistanbul to metro station Seyrantepe (M2). [Wiki]

A 800 m funicular was opened on 28 Oct 2022 to link the Bosphorus shore with the university area and metro line M6 above [Wiki]

On 29 Oct 2013, the long planned underwater Bosphorus rail crossing, referred to as 'Marmaray', the construction of which had started in May 2004, was opened. The project includes a 13.3 km Istanbul Strait crossing and the upgrade of 63 km of suburban lines to create a 76.6 km high capacity line between Gebze and Halkali. The Istanbul Strait crossing was realised by means of a 1.8 km earthquake-proof immersed tube tunnel, assembled from 18 sections. This underwater tunnel is linked to bored tunnels from Kazliçesme on the European side and Ayrilik Çesmesi on the Asian side of Istanbul. Intermediate underground stations were built at Yenikapi, Sirkeci and Üsküdar (Sirkeci only opened on 1 Dec 2013). The Yenikapi hub includes the termini for metro lines M1 and M2. The upgrade of the suburban lines required the laying of a third track along most of the way to increase the line capacity. The automatic train control system provided by Siemens (Trainguard Sirius) allows a train every 2 minutes.

After a 6-year closure, the upgraded existing suburban rail lines, one on the European side (Sirkeci - Halkali, 27.5 km; Kazliçesme - Halkali incorporated into new line), and one on the Asian side (Hayderpasa - Gebze, 44 km; Sögütlüçesme - Gebze incorporated into new line) was eventually reopened on 12 March 2019 after being linked to the Marmaray tunnel (Line B1 Halkali - Gebze). The intercontinental rail tunnel is also used by long-distance trains.

A limited shuttle service was launched on 23 May 2022 on a single-track line between Halkali and Bahçesehir (Line B2).

On 26 Feb 2024, the historic approach line along the seashore to Sirkeci railway station reopened with a new shuttle service between Sirkeci and Kazliçesme (labelled 'U3'). [Project Website] [Video]

 Projects

Under construction (updated March 2024):

M1B: Kirazli - Halkali extension

M4: from Tavsantepe (formerly known as Kaynarca) a branch to Tuzla (Icmeler)

M5: eastern extension Samandira Merkez - Sultanbeyli

M7: eastern extension Yildiz - Kabatas (2024); western extension from Mahmutbey to Esenyurt Meydani

M10: from Pendik to Istanbul-Sabiha Gökçen International Airport, partly shared service with M4

M11: completion of western leg of Airport express line from Halkali to Arnavutköy Hastane

M12: Cross-city line on Asian side from Kazim Karabekir to 60. Yil Parki (Ümraniye - Atasehir - Göztepe Metrosu; 13 km) (Project Website)

M13: Yenidogan-Emek Metro on Anatolian side - project updated in 2024 with a longer route reaching Sögütlüçesme)

M14: Altunizade - Bosna Bulvari

Gebze-Darica Metro (15.6 km) has been under construction since late 2018 in the southeastern corner of the Istanbul metropolitan area > see our dedicated page here!

Metro Istanbul (Official Website)

IETT - Tünel and Tram Operator

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality > Transportation

Funimag > Tünel

Istanbul Metro at Wikipedia

Marmaray at Wikipedia

Ray Haber (Turkish Rail News)

Bernhard Kußmagk & Robert Schwandl: TRAM ATLAS TÜRKIYE Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bursa, Eskisehir, Gaziantep, Gebze, Istanbul, Izmir, Izmit, Kayseri, Konya, Mersin & Samsun May 2024 80 pages, 120 colour photos, 17 network maps Text deutsch | English ISBN 978-3-936573-77-0 16.50 EUR [More info]