New phase opening on Istanbul Airport metro: Travel time to drop to 30 minutes

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu provided updated information regarding the progress on the Arnavutköy-Halkalı section of the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport-Gayrettepe Metro Project. Minister Uraloğlu stated that they planned the project in two branches, noting that the section of the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport line between Kağıthane and Istanbul Airport began passenger service on January 22, 2023, and the Kağıthane-Gayrettepe section on January 29, 2024.

Emphasizing that final operations are currently underway on the 17.5-kilometer Arnavutköy-Halkalı section, Uraloğlu said, "We have completed the fine workmanship in the stations and are now making the final touches on landscaping and environmental arrangements. Testing and commissioning work on the Arnavutköy-Halkalı line is also nearing its end."

With the completion of the project, this new ring metro line in Istanbul will have a total length of 69 kilometers, making it one of the longest underground metro lines not only in Turkey but in the world. Furthermore, this line stands out as a high-speed metro that runs entirely underground.

"We are nearing the end of the work on the 17.5-kilometer Arnavutköy-Halkalı section. We have finished the fine work in the stations, and we are currently carrying out the final touches on landscaping and environmental arrangements. We are nearing the end of the testing and commissioning work on the Arnavutköy-Halkalı line. Once we finish this section, we will have completed the 69-kilometer ring line under the name of the Halkalı-Istanbul Airport-Gayrettepe Metro Project, which will be Turkey's longest and fastest, and one of the world's longest, in the class of fully underground metros."

Following the commissioning of the new line, passengers will be able to easily transfer to different metro systems. Many connection points will be established with the Vezneciler-Sultangazi-Fenertepe Metro, the Bakırköy-Kirazlı-Başakşehir-Kayaşehir Metro, the Ataköy-İkitelli-Olimpiyat Metro, and the Kabataş-Mecidiyeköy-Mahmutbey-Bahçeşehir-Esenyurt Metro. At the Halkalı Station, integration will be provided to both the Marmaray line and the Yenikapı-Kirazlı-Halkalı metro.

Minister Uraloğlu drew attention to the importance of these integrations, stating, "Thanks to the integrations provided, the travel time between Halkalı and Istanbul Airport will drop to 30 minutes, Halkalı-Göktürk to 43 minutes, Halkalı-Kağıthane to 54 minutes, Halkalı-Gayrettepe to 57 minutes, Küçükçekmece-Kemerburgaz to 50 minutes, and Başakşehir (Metrokent)-Kağıthane to 48 minutes."

News Source: 12punto