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Izmir is Turkey's third largest city (1.8 million inh.) and lies in the west of the country. It is an important harbour on the Gulf of Izmir, an arm of the Aegean Sea (Mediterranean Sea).

The first metro line is 11.5 km long and has 10 stations. It opened for trial service on 22 May 2000, regular passenger service started on 25 August 2000. The line runs underground through the city centre for 4.4 km (Üçyol - Basmane), elevated for 2.3 km (Hilal - Halkapinar) and at grade or in a cutting for 4.8 km (Stadyum - Bornova). A trip along the entire line takes 16 minutes. Platforms are 125 m long, although initially only 3-car-trains (750 V DC) are used. At Halkapinar transfer is possible to Turkish State Railways.

The metro was built as a turnkey project by a consortium led by Adtranz and is operated by Izmir Metro A.S.

25 August 2000 - Üçyol - Bornova

 Projects

- western extension under construction (May 2007): underground, 5.2 km, from Üçyol to Fahrettin Altay.

- planned extensions:

Bornova - Bornova Merkez (3 km)
Üçyol - Dokuz Eylul University (11 km)
Halkapinar - Otogar (4.5 km)
Fahrettin Altay - D.E.U. Hastanesi (3 km)

- Current suburban lines (Banliyö) are being upgraded to metro standard (hizli tren) and separated from goods traffic:

1) North Line: Alsancak - Aliaga, 57 km, 3 km underground at Karsiyaka, opening mid-2007

2) South Line: Alsancak - Cumaovasi, 22 km, 1.7 km underground at Buca-Sirinyer, opening mid-2007, serving Menderes Airport

Operating hours - 6:00 - 24:00, every 4-5 min rush hours, every 7-10 daytime, after 22:00 every 15 min

Fare - 0.90 (New) Turkish Lira (YTL), payable by tokens or Kentkart (contactless smartcard)

Izmir Metro (Official Site)

ESHOT - Izmir Transport Operator

City Hall Server - Metro Project (Slide Show)

Metro Construction