The railway project connecting Izmir with its suburbs.
The project started with upgrading of existing line. There’s also a plan to build new railway between Aliağa-Bergama within extension plans.
Project owner: The joint venture company of TCDD and İzmir Metropolitan Municipality: IZBAN AS
Length:
- 111 km (current)
- 137 km (with Selcuk extension)
- 185 km (with Bergama extension)
Route:
Phases:
- Aliağa-Cumaovası: 80 km. The existing line was electrified and signalized. The first section Izban service started.
- Cumaovası-Tepeköy: 30 km. The existing line was electrified and signalized. Izban service extende until Tepeköy.
- Tepeköy-Selçuk: 26 km. A second track will be added to the existing line, electrified and signalized.
- Aliağa-Bergama: 49 km. The new line going to be constructed for Çandarlı Port will be extended to Bergama for Izban.
Trains running on Izban network:
- Suburban trains: Izban trains run every 10 minutes in peak hours.
- Passenger trains: All main line and regional trains departing from Izmir use some sections of Izban network.
- Freight trains: Freight trains are using the Izban network in time periods Izban services are not affected.
 Urban Transport by Rail in Izmir |
Stations and connections:
- Aliağa
- Biçerova
- Hatundere
- Menemen
- Egekent 2
- Ulukent
- Egekent
- Ata Sanayi
- Çiğli
- Mavişehir – Karşıyaka Tram (under construction)
- Şemikler
- Demirköprü
- Nergiz
- Karşıyaka
- Alaybey – Karşıyaka Tram (under construction)
- Naldöken
- Turan
- Bayraklı
- Salhane
- Halkapınar – İzmir Metro and Konak Tram (under construction)
- Hilal – İzmir Metro
- Alsancak
- Kemer
- Şirinyer
- Koşu
- İnkilap
- Semt Garajı
- ESBAŞ
- Gaziemir
- Sarnıç
- Adnan Menderes Airport
- Cumovası
- Develi
- Tekeli
- Pancar
- Kuşçuburun
- Torbalı
- Tepeköy
Distance between stations: Min 630 meter, max 12 km
Travel time:
- Aliağa-Cumaovası: 1:35 min
- Cumaovası-Tepeköy: 28 min
Frequency: Every 10 min (during peak hours)
Ridership:
- 2015: 87.5 mn/year
- Jan 2016: 300k/day
 Best Rail Solutions in Turkish Cities |
Rolling stock:
- 33 CAF sets (99 cars)
- 40 Hyundai Rotem sets (120 cars)
History:
- 3 Mar 2006: Engineering works started
- 2007: İzban AŞ founded
- Mar 2008: CAF was awarded the tender for 33 sets
- 1 Jul 2010: Halkapınar-Cumaovası test runs started
- 30 Aug 2010: Halkapınar-Cumaovası commercial service started
- 5 Dec 2010: Çiğli-Cumaovası commercial service started
- 30 Jan 2011: Aliağa-Cumaovası commercial service started
- 6 Mar 2011: Opening ceremony
- 14 Mar 2011: Tepeköy extension project inked
- 7 Oct 2011: Tepeköy extension works started
- Mar 2012: Hyundai Rotem was awarded the tender for 40 sets
- May 2013: UITP best cooperation award
- 4 Aug 2013: Hilal Station opened as interchange station to İzmir Metro
- 6 Feb 2016: Tepeköy extension (30 km) commissioned
Cover Photo: Onur Uysal ©
Related Articles:
Izban started longer services
Izban Torbali Line Opens Today
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What has been achieved with the IZBAN system is impressive, but the system is plagued by a problem common to many urban systems: long journeys (Aliağı to Alsancak, for example) are tedious with the many stops. This reminds me of what it is like travelling from Heathrow Airport to central London on the Piccadilly Line. There needs to be consideration for the provision of express/limited stop services and this will certainly be necessary to encourage tourists to use the IZBAN for places such as Selçuk and Bergama. The IZBAN is also a way to access Foca (combined with ESHOT bus services) but would be more attractive with an express service.