Ankara Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that they equipped Istanbul with modern rail system networks, saying, “Tomorrow, we are opening the new metro line between Arnavutköy and Istanbul Airport, which covers a distance of 14 kilometers.”
Minister Uraloğlu, in his written statement, announced that with the opening of the Arnavutköy-Istanbul Airport Line, the total length of the rail system constructed by the Ministry in Istanbul would reach 161.7 kilometers.
Pointing out that 416 kilometers of urban rail system lines across the country were built by the Ministry, Minister Uraloğlu noted that construction works continued for a total of 60.7 kilometers of rail system lines in Istanbul, Kocaeli, and Bursa.
Uraloğlu emphasized that seven rail system lines with a total length of 147.7 kilometers in Istanbul were put into service for the people of Istanbul by the Ministry. He stated that projects such as Marmaray, as well as metro lines such as Levent-Hisarüstü, Pendik-Sabiha Gökçen Airport, and Gayrettepe-Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport, were carried out by the Ministry.
“We will complete a 69-kilometer ring line” Highlighting their efforts to equip Istanbul with modern rail system networks, Uraloğlu stated:
“Tomorrow, we are also putting into service the new 14-kilometer metro line between Arnavutköy and Istanbul Airport. Within a year, by completing the Arnavutköy-Halkalı section of this line, entirely constructed underground, we will have completed a 69-kilometer ring line, which will be Turkey’s longest and one of the longest in the world in the metro class. Our aim is to bring much more to the people of Istanbul.”
Uraloğlu mentioned that the line consisted of four stations: Arnavutköy, Taşoluk, Istanbul Airport Cargo, and Istanbul Airport Terminal, and announced that the Arnavutköy-Istanbul Airport Metro Line would be connected to the Gayrettepe-Kağıthane-Istanbul Airport Metro Line, thus providing uninterrupted transportation from Arnavutköy to Istanbul Airport and Zincirlikuyu.
Uraloğlu pointed out that with the opening of the line tomorrow, the total length of the rail system lines brought to Istanbul by the Ministry would reach 161.7 kilometers, and the total length of Istanbul’s rail system network would increase to 362 kilometers.
First time in Turkey, railway infrastructure system used in metro Minister Uraloğlu stated that the tunnels in the Halkalı-Kayaşehir-Istanbul Airport section, which is the continuation of the line from Arnavutköy to Istanbul Airport, were also completed.
Uraloğlu reported that they benefited from the railway infrastructure system, which is used for the first time in Istanbul and Turkey’s metros, in the Istanbul Airport metros. He made the following assessment:
“Specially produced concrete slabs were placed in the tunnels with precision at the concrete factory. Rails were placed on top of these slabs with zero error. By providing high precision along the railway line compared to the option of pouring concrete on site, we ensured a quieter and more comfortable train ride standard along the entire line. Thus, we have taken metro standards one step further with this different infrastructure, which has been used in urban metros in the world in recent years.”
Uraloğlu indicated that they planned to complete the 17.5-kilometer Arnavutköy-Halkalı section of the line as soon as possible, stating:
“We always say that if it weren’t for our Ministry’s investments, traffic in Istanbul would be paralyzed. We work diligently for the people of Istanbul. We bring Turkey’s firsts into service for the people of Istanbul. With the opening of the Arnavutköy-Istanbul Airport Line tomorrow, transportation from Arnavutköy to Istanbul Airport will be reduced to 8 minutes.”
Uraloğlu also stated that the line would be integrated with other metro lines at Istanbul Airport, thus reducing the travel time between Arnavutköy and Göktürk to 20 minutes, and between Arnavutköy and Kağıthane to 32 minutes. He also mentioned that the travel time between Arnavutköy and Gayrettepe would be covered in 41 minutes with metro comfort.