Istanbul has opened the latest extension of the M5 Üsküdar-Sultanbeyli Metro Line, adding 4.4 kilometres of new track and four stations to one of the city’s busiest transport corridors on the Asian side.
The new section extends the fully automated metro route further east and is expected to significantly reduce travel times for commuters travelling between Üsküdar and Sultanbeyli, one of Istanbul’s fastest-growing districts.
Officials said journeys that could previously take up to 150 minutes by road during heavy traffic may now fall to around 50 minutes using the metro network.
The extension includes the stations of Samandıra Center, Veysel Karani, Hasanpaşa and Sultanbeyli. The opening expands direct metro access deeper into eastern Istanbul, an area that has experienced rapid population growth in recent years.
The M5 line was originally opened in 2017 as Turkey’s first fully driverless metro system. Operated by Metro İstanbul, the route currently connects Üsküdar on the Bosphorus with districts including Ümraniye, Çekmeköy and now Sultanbeyli.
With the latest expansion, the line reaches approximately 30 kilometres in total length and continues to play a central role in Istanbul’s wider public transport strategy.
Transport officials said the line can carry up to 64,800 passengers per hour in one direction, helping reduce pressure on roads and bus routes across the eastern side of the city.
The extension is also expected to improve access to key residential and commercial districts that previously relied heavily on buses, minibuses and private vehicles.
Istanbul remains one of Europe’s most congested cities, with daily traffic delays regularly affecting millions of residents. Public transport investment has therefore become a major priority for both municipal and national authorities.
The M5 project forms part of a broader effort to expand Istanbul’s rail network, which has grown rapidly over the past decade. The city’s metro system now exceeds 380 kilometres when suburban and Marmaray lines are included, with several additional routes under construction.
The newly opened section is expected to integrate in future with other planned metro lines, including the M12 Göztepe-Ümraniye Metro Line and the M14 Altunizade-Bosna Boulevard Metro Line. These future links are designed to strengthen connections between residential suburbs, business districts and intermodal transport hubs.
The M5 line already connects with Marmaray at Üsküdar, giving passengers direct rail access between the Asian and European sides of Istanbul beneath the Bosphorus Strait.
Urban planners have increasingly focused on expanding rail infrastructure as Istanbul’s population continues to rise. The metropolitan area is home to more than 16 million people, placing enormous pressure on roads and public transport systems.
Officials believe the new metro extension will not only shorten commuting times but also help reduce vehicle emissions and fuel consumption by encouraging more residents to shift away from private car use.
The opening also supports wider redevelopment plans across eastern districts, where improved transport links are expected to stimulate housing, retail and commercial investment.
Metro İstanbul said the extension had undergone testing, signalling integration and operational preparations before passenger services began.
For daily commuters, however, the most immediate impact is expected to be practical rather than strategic: a much faster and more predictable journey across one of Istanbul’s busiest urban corridors.
