Marmaray

Marmaray
Two trains meet in Bakırköy.
Overview
Service typeCommuter rail
StatusOperating
LocaleIstanbul
PredecessorIstanbul suburban
Haydarpaşa suburban
First serviceOctober 29, 2013 (Kazlıçeşme-Ayrılık Çeşmesi)
March 12, 2019 (Halkalı-Gebze)
Current operator(s)TCDD Taşımacılık
Former operator(s)Turkish State Railways
Ridership124 million (2019)[1]
Websitemarmaray.gov.tr Edit this at Wikidata
Route
TerminiHalkalı
Gebze
Distance travelled76.6 km (47.6 mi)
Service frequency8 minutes (Ataköy – Pendik)

15 minutes (Halkalı – Gebze)

Frequency may change during rush hour.
Technical
Rolling stockTCDD E32000
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV, 50 Hz AC Overhead line
Operating speed60–80 km/h (37–50 mph) (average)
Track owner(s)Turkish State Railways

Marmaray (pronounced [ˈmaɾmaɾaj] ) is a 76.6-kilometre-long (47.6 mi) commuter rail line located in Istanbul, Turkey. The line runs from Halkalı, on the European side, to Gebze, on the Asian side, along the north shore of the Sea of Marmara. Mostly using the right-of-way of two existing commuter rail lines, the Marmaray line linked the two lines via a tunnel under the Bosporus strait, becoming the first standard gauge rail connection between Europe and Asia (all prior connections ran through Russia and used the incompatible Russian broad gauge).[2] The two existing sections of the line were rebuilt and expanded from two tracks to three tracks, to allow for higher capacity with intercity and freight rail. The name Marmaray is a portmanteau of the words Marmara and Ray, which is Turkish for rail.

  1. ^ "Turkish railways post record figures in 2019". Daily Sabah. February 25, 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2023.
  2. ^ Keith Fender, "Standard gauge rail connection from Asia to Europe opens in Turkey", Trains (October 29, 2013).