The scope, route, stops, connections and history of Gebze-3rd Airport-Halkali high speed train line which will connect two sides of Istanbul, two airports of Istanbul, Halkali and Gebze:
Project overview
- Owner: Turkish State Railways
- Project cost: TL 4.9 bn (1st phase)
- Contractor: Tender has not opened yet.
Phases
- 1st phase: Gebze-Sabiha Gökçen airport-Yavuz Sultan Selim bridge (62 km)
- 2nd phase: Yavuz Sultan Selim bridge-3nd airport
- 3rd phase: 3. airport-Halkalı
Route
Stops/connections
Halkalı (Connection to Marmaray, Halkalı-Kirazlı metro and international passenger trains) – 3. airport (Connection to Mecidiyeköy-Göktürk-Airport metro) – Sabiha Gökçen Airport (Connection to Sabiha Gökçen-Kaynarca metro) – Pendik – Gebze (Connection to Marmaray, Gebze-Darıca tram and passenger trains)
Trains
Project details
High speed trains will reach to European side with this line. It’s not clear if the line will be used by freight trains or not. The transportation between two airports of Istanbul will be through this line.
- Line length: 152 km
- Travel time: 60 min
Cover photo: ICA ©
Categories: Railway Infrastructure
Looks like a beaut of a bridge, not to mention a beaut of a high-speed line! If freight trains don’t use the bridge, will they use the tunnel under the Straits?
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Yes, tunnel is already announced to be used by freight trains.. at least by some of them..
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Before the tunnel was built, was freight traffic between Turkey and the rest of Europe barged across the Straits?
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It’s still by rail ferries. Tunnel opened, but not connected to national network yet. See https://railturkey.org/2016/07/04/marmaray-project/
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But why isn’t the tunnel connected to the national railway network?
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Phil,
The Marmaray project is many years behind schedule, and the specification has been changed several times. The lines which ran into central Istanbul on both Asian and European sides were both completely worn out, so the tracks have been lifted and all the signalling and power equipment removed, in anticipation of a total rebuild. The central section – including the tunnel under the Bosphorus – has been open for a few years. However there are still significant gaps on both sides, where total rebuilding of the railway hasn’t even started yet. All that is left is a muddy path where the railway used to be. You can expect to wait for another couple of years before through trains start running, I would guess.
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Thanks, Jeff, for your detailed response. That Europe and Asia may some day be able to interchange freight traffic is exciting. Let’s hope that some day comes soon!
I also look forward to Europe being linked to China and the intermediate countries via a standard-gauge line. Such interchangeability has been a given in North America for over 100 years, as it has been in all of Europe, except Spain, I think.
By the way, may I ask you a favor? I’m a professional writer/editor with 16 years’ experience, most recently as editor of Investor’s Digest of Canada based in Toronto.
But I’m now hoping to start writing — for pay, of course!– about railways and airports. So, do you know of any railways, railway industry organizations, or construction companies that build railways that might be looking for an English language writer/editor? With such companies, I’m confident I could add value.
Thanks
Phil Fine
Jerusalem, Israel
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Phil,
I’ll keep my ear to the ground for you,but nothing immediately springs to mind.
Jeff
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Thanks, Jeff. I appreciate it. Keep the observations coming!
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I have got one question: As of now I thought when Marmaray is complete, the YHT and hopefully some mainline trains are going to start from / terminate at Haydarpaşa.
Now this article suggests that a few years after the completion of Marmaray, YHT trains to Ankara and Konya are going to cross the bridge, which is incompatible to connecting Haydarpaşa. Does that mean, Haydarpaşa is going to revived just for a few years and then closed down again (at least for YHT), having the trains terminate at Halkalı?
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Good question. I just can say what I guess. Some of the trains will depart from Halkali, and some others from Haydarpasa. I’m quite sure there’ll be enough passengers from both sides. And note that Haydarpasa is a much better point for accessing city center of Istanbul.
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Thanks, Onur.
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