- OPERATION

The Istanbul Metro and Hafif Metro operate 6:00 - 24:00, with trains every 4 minutes during rush hours.

- FARES (2005)

Basic fare - 1.10 YTL, paid in tokens, also valid for tram

Tünel - 0.75 YTL

With 8.7 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 between the upper and lower parts of the city (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 1989 a light rail line (Hafif Metro) was built from Aksaray towards the western suburbs. Until 1995 it was extended to Yenibosna. It has a total length of 18 km with 16 stops. It runs underground for 4.4 km through the city centre. In the 1990's also a modern tram line was put into service through the older parts of the city.

Construction of the first full metro line started in 1993 and the first section between Taksim and 4 Levent opened after some delays in September 2000. All stations have escalators and elevators to provide full accessibility for the disabled. The line has a capacity 70.000 people per hour per direction, currently there are 8 French built 4-car trains in service (GEC-Alsthom). A trip along the entire line takes 12 minutes. The metro was built by the cut-and-cover method to withstand earthquakes of up to 9 degrees. Stations look similar, although a different colour was chosen for each of them. Total length of the metro is 7.9 km with 6 stations. Track gauge on all different rail systems is 1435 mm.

The second section of the Metro from Taksim to Yenikapi, across the Golden Horn on a bridge and underground through the old city, is under construction. It will be 5.4 km long and have 4 stations. At Yenikapi it will intersect with the extended Hafif Metro and with suburban trains. Later it will be extended northwards from 4 Levent to Ayazaga.