Tunnel to open - just 4 decades late

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

The Deliktaş tunnel in Sivas Central Anatolia is opened after 39 years of work.

The Deliktaş Tunnel in Turkey’s Central Anatolian province of Sivas has finally opened after its foundations were laid 39 years ago on Nov. 15, 1973. The construction of the tunnel has outlasted six Turkish presidents and 14 different Turkish prime ministers as well 17 Sivas mayors. 

The tunnel has had some 5,330 workers working on it to date, and eight have died in work-related accidents. The tunnel is Turkey’s largest train tunnel and is the only tunnel with a lighting system. The tunnel runs 5,473 meters in length. 

“The tunnel was started in 1973, but until 2003 there was no serious progress. In 2003 it was transferred to the Turkish State Railways. After 2006 work resumed, so that it could open as soon as possible,” said Turkish State Railways (TCDD) fourth-region manager Hacı Ahmet Şener. 

The tunnel is now ready for test runs using freight trains, added Şener, explaining that they were also now holding a tender for the tunnel’s fire extinguishing and air circulation system. The tunnel’s official opening will come at a later date.