Halkalı-Gebze train line expected to open in coming months

ISTANBUL

The train line connecting Istanbul’s European side suburb Halkalı with Gebze district of Kocaeli province on the east is expected to be opened to service in the coming months following the completion of a six-year-long renovation process.

The renovation of the train line, which had been closed since 2013 due to construction, was initially planned to be completed in two years.

When the working company gave up the job due to high costs in 2014, the process was postponed.

Upon resuming in 2015, some 97 percent of the 77-kilometer-long line had so far been renewed.

Apart from commuter train lines, an additional line was built for high-speed trains.

Many stations were also restored as part of the project, only a few have not been renovated.

The Tıbbiye Bridge, located in the Kadıköy district, which was closed in April 2018, is expected to be opened before its deadline.

The bridge’s renovation was planned to be completed in one year.

The restoration works at Haydarpaşa Train Station are ongoing.

When the line will be integrated with Marmaray, there will be a total of 43 stations and passengers will be able to travel from Gebze to Halkalı in just 1.5 hours.

After the station’s works are completed, testing process will begin.

The train line is expected to carry about 1 million passengers per day.