Istanbul, Turkey – The much-anticipated Arnavutköy-Halkalı line, the final section of the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport-Gayrettepe Metro Project, is on the verge of completion, promising a significant reduction in travel times and a boost to the city’s public transportation network. This development marks another step towards creating one of Turkey’s fastest and longest underground metro lines.
Halkalı-Istanbul Airport Journey to Be Cut to 30 Minutes
Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, provided an update on the ongoing testing and commissioning work on the Arnavutköy-Halkalı line. He highlighted that the project, initially planned in two sections – Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport Metro Line and Istanbul Airport-Halkalı Metro Line – is nearing its final stages.
The Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport section saw its Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport segment open on January 22, 2023, followed by the Kağıthane-Gayrettepe section on January 29, 2024. Additionally, the 14-kilometer Cargo Terminal-Arnavutköy Hospital section of the Istanbul Airport-Halkalı Line was commissioned on March 19, 2024.
“One of the World’s Longest Underground Metro Lines”
Uraloğlu stated, “We are nearing the end of the work on the 17.5-kilometer Arnavutköy-Halkalı section. We have completed the fine finishing work at the stations, and we are currently putting the final touches on the landscaping and environmental arrangements.” He added, “When this section is completed, we will have finished the 69-kilometer ring line under the name of the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport-Gayrettepe Metro Project, which will be Turkey’s longest and fastest, and one of the world’s longest, entirely underground metro lines.”
With the full operation of the line, significant integration points will be established. The new metro will connect with the Vezneciler-Sultangazi-Fenertepe Metro at Fenertepe Station, the Bakırköy-Kirazlı-Başakşehir-Kayaşehir Metro at Kayaşehir Station, the Ataköy-İkitelli-Olimpiyat Metro at Olimpiyatköy Station, and the Kabataş-Mecidiyeköy-Mahmutbey-Bahçeşehir-Esenyurt Metro at Halkalı Stadium Station. At Halkalı Station, the line will integrate with the Yenikapı-Kirazlı-Halkalı Metro and Marmaray.
These integrations will dramatically reduce travel times across the city:
- Halkalı-Istanbul Airport: 30 minutes
- Halkalı-Göktürk: 43 minutes
- Halkalı-Kağıthane: 54 minutes
- Halkalı-Gayrettepe: 57 minutes
- Küçükçekmece-Kemerburgaz: 50 minutes
- Başakşehir (Metrokent)-Kağıthane: 48 minutes
The completion of this project is expected to significantly alleviate Istanbul’s traffic burden and provide a more efficient and rapid transportation option for its residents and visitors.
Source: https://www.ntv.com.tr/ntvpara/istanbula-bir-guzel-haber-daha-turkiyenin-en-hizlisi-olacak-yolculuk-30-dakikaya-dusecek-1724691
