The final section of the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport Metro Line, extending Istanbul’s transportation network, was officially inaugurated by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. This new line significantly reduces the travel time from Gayrettepe to Istanbul Airport to just 30 minutes.
With a capacity to transport 600,000 passengers daily, the metro line consists of 9 stations and can reach speeds of up to 120 kilometers per hour (about 75 mph). It is expected to greatly alleviate Istanbul’s traffic congestion. Importantly, travel times from major centers such as Taksim to Istanbul Airport will also be considerably shortened so that travelers can visit the city instead of staying at a hotel near the airport. For instance, the journey from Taksim to Istanbul Airport will now take only 41 minutes, the stretch between Göktürk-Mahmutbey will be 38 minutes, Tekstilkent-Istanbul Airport will be 45 minutes, and from 4. Levent to Istanbul Airport, it will be just 35 minutes.
Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, speaking at the ceremony, stated that the line would use the fastest metro vehicles capable of speeds up to 120 km/h, equipped with domestic and national signaling systems. He also highlighted the opening of the Gayrettepe Station, Turkey’s deepest metro station at 72 meters deep. This station will integrate the airport metro line with the Metrobus and the Yenikapı-Taksim-Hacıosman Metro Line, facilitating easier access to different areas of Istanbul.
Minister Uraloğlu also touched upon ongoing projects to strengthen Turkey’s transportation infrastructure. He mentioned significant initiatives in Istanbul, such as the Gebze-Halkalı Commuter Line (MARMARAY), Levent-Hisarüstü Metro Line, Tavşantepe-Sabiha Gökçen Airport Metro Line, and Başakşehir-Çam Sakura City Hospital-Kayaşehir Metro Line. He noted that the length of Istanbul’s rail system network had reached 131 kilometers and would continue to expand with other ongoing projects.
Looking ahead, Minister Uraloğlu announced plans to complete and inaugurate several other projects in the first quarter of 2024. These include the 8.3 km long Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme Rail System Line with 8 stations, the 8.4 km long Bakırköy-Kirazlı Line with 7 stations, and a 14-kilometer section of the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport Metro Line between Arnavutköy and Istanbul Airport.
The expansion of Istanbul’s metro network, particularly with the new Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport Metro Line, represents a major leap in improving the city’s transportation infrastructure and connectivity. It not only provides a faster and more efficient way for residents and visitors to travel to the airport but also contributes to the overall development and accessibility of the city.
Very nice new station at Gayrettepe M11 and nice words about “integration” with M2 line but the M2 station of the same name looks to be about a kilometer away (on Google map) and there is a motorway in between!
I can’t find any information anywhere about how to get from Gayrettepe M11 to Garettepe M2. Is there a walkway? Is there a tunnel? Is there a shuttle?
Indeed the connection is not very short but you can get between two lines from underground via escalators and travellators. You can watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cnu2VCa0IWY