Haydarpaşa to open on this date: Minister announces...

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that they will complete all work as soon as possible and have Haydarpaşa Station fully ready within this year.

Uraloğlu, who conducted inspections at the Haydarpaşa Station and Archaeological Site, stated in his remarks there that they were reviewing the restoration work at the historic Haydarpaşa Station, a legacy of our ancestors and one of Istanbul's most important historical landmarks, as well as the latest progress on the "Archaeological and Industrial Heritage Park Project," which will be a first in Turkey and the world with its design concept.

Reminding that Haydarpaşa Station was opened 116 years ago by the order of Sultan Abdulhamid II, Uraloğlu noted that the station has since become one of the most magnificent symbolic structures of Istanbul and Turkey.

Uraloğlu recalled that the roof of Haydarpaşa Station collapsed due to the fire on November 28, 2010, and the fourth floor became completely unusable and suffered great damage, explaining that after the incident, they began restoration work, which they carried out meticulously through the General Directorate of State Railways without damaging the historical texture.

Stating that they have been carrying out the restoration work in two stages, Uraloğlu expressed that in the first stage, they began the restoration of the historic station's roof, where the damage was most severe, and completed it in 3 years in accordance with its original state.

Discussing the work done on the roof building, which they renewed in accordance with its original, Uraloğlu emphasized that they also carried out the repairs of the towers.

Uraloğlu said, "Now, the attic, where restoration work has been completed in accordance with its magnificent and unique architectural form, will have its new appearance following the mechanical and electrical installations and the construction of the raised floor."

'HAYDARPAŞA REINFORCED AGAINST EARTHQUAKES'

Minister Uraloğlu stated that as a result of the ground assessment studies, they have completed ground improvement works and also carried out structural reinforcement construction against a potential major earthquake, and continued his remarks as follows:

"This was truly important for Istanbul. We have maintained the clock, which is the symbol of the historic Haydarpaşa Station and whose motor and other mechanisms were damaged in the fire, and placed it back in its original location. We have also finished the decorations, stained glass windows and frames, original flooring, wall coverings, gold-leafed sconces, and wooden door, window, and shutter work in the ground floor passenger waiting lounge. We are also conducting a delicate study for the repair of the exterior facade. Conservation aimed at protection, that is, artistic cleaning, is ongoing. We are carrying out stone manufacturing with a unique technique using Lefke stone, also known as sandstone, which was sourced from a quarry opened specifically for the restoration of the station building. We have completed the exterior facade manufacturing and lighting works for the Kadıköy sea-facing, Kadıköy short, and Kadıköy tower sections of the station building."

'HAYDARPAŞA WILL BE A FIRST IN THE WORLD'

Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Uraloğlu stated that the construction work for the No. 5 Plan structure, located within the Haydarpaşa Station project and its parcel, is continuing in terms of infrastructure and superstructure, and that they have completed the concrete, screed, and wooden joinery works, adding: "Hopefully, we will finish all our work as soon as possible and have our Haydarpaşa Station completely ready within this year."

Stating that they will implement the Archeopark Project, which will be a first in Turkey and the world, on the Haydarpaşa Station site, Uraloğlu provided the following information:

"As you know, with the opening of the Marmaray Bosphorus crossing in 2013, Haydarpaşa Station became idle. Because previously, trains arriving at Haydarpaşa were transported by ships via the port here, crossing the Bosphorus to reach Sirkeci on the other side to continue their journeys. With Marmaray, this situation is no longer necessary, and our trains have started to cross the Bosphorus seamlessly via Marmaray. As the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, during the work we carried out while implementing the Marmaray project, we encountered significant historical findings, especially at the Yenikapı, Sirkeci, and Üsküdar stations, and we contacted the authorized institutions. While Istanbul's known history at that time was 2,500 years, we identified 8,500-year-old footprints that emerged during the Marmaray rescue excavations in Yenikapı."

Uraloğlu recalled that structures thought to belong to the historic city of Chalcedon were uncovered during the work initiated in the railway area of the Haydarpaşa Station region, and said that foundations of structures from the Ottoman, Roman, and early and late Byzantine periods were found during the excavations.

Explaining that they are implementing the "Archaeological and Industrial Heritage Park Project," which includes the protection of the area's historical and cultural heritage identity, the restoration of existing historical buildings with the uncovered archaeological remains, and their exhibition, Uraloğlu stated: "The total area of the project is 475,000 square meters. 400,000 square meters will be an archaeological park, and 75,000 square meters will be railway and operational areas."

EXCAVATIONS LARGELY COMPLETED

Minister Uraloğlu stated that they have currently completed the reconstruction of the historic platforms, finished the track infrastructure, ballast, and sleeper work in the train station area, are continuing with superstructure construction, and have completed 35 percent of the rail laying process.

Touching upon the progress made in wastewater and rainwater drainage as well as lighting poles, Uraloğlu provided the following information:

"90 percent of the archaeological excavations carried out by the Istanbul Archaeology Museums under our Ministry of Culture and Tourism have been completed. Conservation and transport operations are ongoing. During the excavation work, approximately 12,000 coins, as well as statues, column capitals, and glass and ceramic artifacts dating from the 5th century BC to the 7th century AD, were found. Widespread architectural remains, identified as shops, residences, and church and bath structures that were part of the social fabric, dating back to the Hellenistic, Roman, and Byzantine periods up to the 4th and 5th centuries AD, were uncovered behind the port area. The discovery of such a large number of coins also shows that this region was a commercial center. At this point, our joint and primary goal as the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, together with our Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is to protect, preserve, and promote these unique assets that Istanbul possesses in the most accurate way."

Noting that they will introduce both the restoration work at Haydarpaşa Station and the historical values unearthed in the station area to the world as a first, Minister Uraloğlu said, "For this reason, I believe our project is a very important achievement for both Istanbul and Turkey."

Pointing to the importance of the unearthed artifacts, Uraloğlu added that these works, which shed light on the history of Istanbul, will become a center of attraction for both domestic and foreign tourists.

News Source: 12punto