Suburban and regional train lines will be reopened in 2018 in Istanbul, while in Turkey’s capital, Ankara, trains will be resumed to traffic by the end of 2017. The announcement was made by the Turkish Transport Minister, Ahmet Arslan.
„By the end of 2018, suburban trains will be put in commercial service on the Istanbul – Gebze route, train travel starting from Haydarpaşa station. Suburban trains will also operate departures and arrivals in Halkalı and Sirkeci rail stations, located also in Istanbul, on the European side. The two stations will also benefit from connections with the Istanbul metro network,” Minister Arslan said.
Halkalı rail station operates regional rail traffic towards cities such as Edirne, Uzunköprü and Çerkezköy, as well as international trains to Bucharest and Belgrade.
From Sirkeci rail station, regional trains run towards cities such as Kapıkule, Edirne and Uzunköprü, as well as international trains to Bucharest and Belgrade.
Haydarpaşa rail station is located on the Asian side of Istanbul. Rail traffic was suspended at this station in 2013 in order to carry out modernisation works on the existing suburban lines, including the one that will be connected with the Marmaray metro line. The project will streamline international rail traffic between Europe and Asia.
After modernising Haydarpaşa rail station, high-speed trains connecting Ankara will run uninterruptedly to and from this rail hub.
Work on the Bashkentray line, which will operate regional rail transport to Ankara, will also be completed by the end of 2017. Sincan city in western Turkey and Kayas in the east will benefit from the new regional rail transport route.
Photo: Haydarpaşa rail station
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