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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 km

03 Sept 1989: Aksaray - Kartaltepe
18 Dec 1989: Kartaltepe - Esenler
31 Jan 1994: Otogar - Zeytinburnu
07 Mar 1994: Zeytinburnu - Bakirköy
25 Aug 1995: Bakirköy - Yenibosna
15 Jan 1999: Bahçelievler station added
20 Dec 2002: Yenibosna - Havalimani (Airport)

Construction 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 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
23 May 2011 - Darüssafaka - Haciosman

First metro line on the Asian side of Istanbul, departing from the ferry terminal at Kadiköy and running fully underground south to Kartal (22 km)

17 Aug 2012: Kadiköy - Kartal

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).

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 future M4) - Iskele Camii - Çarsi - Altiyol - Bahariye - Kilise - Moda Ilkokulu - Moda - Mühürdar - Damga Sokak before returning to Kadiköy.

Although not shown with this line number on official maps, the T5 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.

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.

There are currently two suburban rail lines, one on the European side (Sirkeci - Halkali, 27.5 km, every 20 min), and one on the Asian side (Hayderpasa - Gebze, 44 km, every 20 min), which will be linked by the Marmaray tunnel in 2013. Tracks are shared with long-distance trains.

 Projects

Under construction:

METRO M2 :
Sishane - Yenikapi: across the Golden Horn on a bridge and underground through the old city

METRO M1:
Aksaray - Yenikapi 0.7 km
Esenler - Bagcilar - Kirazli

METRO M4: Kartal - Kaynarca

METRO M3: Kirazli - Olimpiyat/Baskasehir (MetroKent)

METRO: Üsküdar - Ümraniye - Dudullu - Çekmekköy-Sancaktepe (20 km, 16 stations) - construction began in March 2012, opening 2015

BOSPHORUS RAIL LINK 'MARMARAY':
In May 2004, construction of a long planned underwater Bosphorus rail crossing, referred to as 'Marmaray' began. The project includes a 13.3 km Istanbul Strait crossing and the upgrade of 63 km of suburban lines to create a 76.3 km high capacity line between Gebze and Halkali. The Istanbul Strait crossing will be done by a 1.8 km earthquake-proof immersed tube, assembled from 18 sections. This tube will be accessed by bored tunnels from Yenikapi on the European side and Sogutlucesme on the Asian side of Istanbul. Intermediate stations will be built at Sirkeci and Uskudar. An interchange station with Istanbul metro and light rail will be built at Yenikapi. The upgrade of the suburban lines requires the laying of a third track along most of the way to increase the line capacity up to 75,000 passengers per hour in each direction. Signaling must also be modernized to allow 2 minutes headway service. The 41 stations along the line will be refurbished and the platform lengthened to 180 m. The rail tunnel will be used both by suburban and long-distance services.

Planned extensions:

METRO:
Yenikapi - Bagcilar - Basaksehir 20 km
Otogar - Besiktas 13.5 km (Linear Metro due to steep gradients)

HAFIF METRO:
Bakirköy - Beylikdüzü 21 km
Ümraniye - Göztepe 5 km
Kartal - Hava Alani 9.6 km

MONORAIL: Bakirköy - Incirli 3.4 km (western suburbs)

Istanbul Ulasim Metro Operator Official Page

IETT - Tünel and Tram Operator

Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality feat. metro projects

Marmaray Project

Tünel

Istanbul Metro at Wikipedia

Marmaray at Wikipedia