Tram İzmir,[3][4] alternatively known as İzmir Tram[5] (Turkish: İzmir Tramvayı),[1][6] is a tram network in İzmir, Turkey. Owned by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality and operated by İzmir Metro A.Ş., the system consists of three lines: one in Karşıyaka, which opened on 11 April 2017, one in Konak, which opened on 24 March 2018 and one in Çiğli, which opened on 27 January 2024.

Tram İzmir
Two trams at the Atatürk Spor Salonu stop of the Konak Line
Two trams at the Atatürk Spor Salonu stop of the Konak Line
Overview
Ownerİzmir Metropolitan Municipality
Area servedKarşıyaka, Çiğli and Konak
Localeİzmir, Turkey
Transit typeTram
Number of lines3
Number of stations47
Daily ridership110,000[1]
Websitewww.tramizmir.com
Operation
Began operation11 April 2017 (Karşıyaka)
24 March 2018 (Konak)
27 January 2024 (Çiğli)
Operator(s)İzmir Metro A.Ş.[2]
Number of vehicles38
Train length32 m (105 ft)
Headway10-18 min - Karşıyaka-Çiğli Line 5-10 min - Konak Line
Technical
System length33.6 km (20.9 mi)
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification750 V DC
Average speed24 km/h (15 mph)
Top speed70 km/h (43 mph)

The operating length is 33.6 km (20.9 mi) and consists of a total 47 stations. The total cost of these two lines is about ₺450 million (approx. US$120 million).

History

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A tram vehicle on display at the 2016 İzmir International Fair.
 
Bostanlı İskele tram station
 
Alaybey tram station

The first tram line in İzmir opened in 1890, between Alsancak Terminal and Pasaport pier.[7] The Alsancak-Pasaport portion was abandoned in 1956 and the last remaining line in İzmir (Konak-Pasaport) was taken up in the early 1960s. Automobile traffic rose greatly in the decades that followed and in the early 2000s, the city was plagued with congestion in central areas.

In 2009, the Metropolitan Municipality released an overall transportation plan for the city.[8] The plan included the construction of three new tram lines: one in Konak, Karşıyaka and in Buca respectively. These three lines were to be integrated with the city's metro line as well as the two commuter rail lines. Construction was originally expected to start by the end of 2011; however, due to the delayed Environmental Impact Report, this date was pushed back to 2015.[9] In 2013, the Municipality secured necessary funding from the Ministry of Development and finalized system plans in 2014.[10] In the finalized plan, the Buca Tram line was removed due to pressure from the Ministry of Transport.[11] Construction began in April 2015 on the Karşıyaka Tram, and in November 2015 on the Konak Tram.

The first tram vehicles were delivered in 2016 and showcased at the İzmir International Fair in August of the same year. The rest of the vehicles were delivered in February 2017.[12]

The general name of the system was branded Tram İzmir by the Metropolitan Municipality.[3]

T1 Karşıyaka Tram Line

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The Karşıyaka Tram is 8.8 km (5.5 mi) long. The tram line is operating with 2 lines. The Alaybey – Ataşehir Kavşağı line is named the Green Line, and the Mavişehir – Ataşehir line is named the Orange Line.  

Karşıyaka Tram Green Line
Station Platform Connection Notes
Alaybey 1 island platform İZBAN, Bus Approx. 0.5 km walk between Tram and Izban
Karşıyaka İskele 1 island platform Ferry, Bus
Nikah Sarayı 1 island platform None
Yunuslar 1 island platform Bus
Bostanlı İskele 2 side platforms Ferry, Bus Staggered platforms
Çarşı 2 side platforms None
Vilayet Evi 2 side platforms None
Selçuk Yaşar 1 island platform None
Atakent 2 side platforms None
Bilim Müzesi 1 island platform None
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Spor Salonu 1 island platform Bus
Mavişehir 1 island platform T1 Tram (Orange Line)
Ataşehir Kavşağı 1 island platform T3 Tram (Blue Line),
T3 Tram (Red Line), Bus
Karşıyaka Tram Orange Line
Station Platform Connection Notes
Mavişehir 1 island platform T1 Tram (Green Line)
Çevreyolu 2 side platforms None
Ataşehir 1 island platform None Depot is located here.

T2 Konak Tram Line

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Konak İskele tram station
 
Göztepe tram station

The Konak Tram is 12.6 km (7.8 mi) long. The line serves 19 stations and began operating on 24 April 2018. The entire line is double track. The Halkapinar and Fahrettin Altay bound tracks run on opposite sides of the Mustafa Kemal Sahil Boulevard from Fahrettin Altay station to Sadık Bey Station. Then after Sadık Bey, the two lines run parallel to each other, between the seaside and the west-bound Mustafa Kemal Sahil Boulevard. The Tramline turns inland at Gazi Boulevard and the track runs through the median. The line then turns onto Şair Eşref Boulevard, where the tracks are laid on the left most lane of each direction. The lines split past the Alsancak Train Station with the Halkapınar bound line taking Şehitler Street and the Fahrettin Altay bound track following Liman Street. The lines meet up again along Şehitler Street just before arriving at Halkapınar.  

Station Platform Connection Notes
Halkapınar 1 island platform İZBAN, Metro, Bus Depot is located here.
Üniversite 1 side platform None Only Halkapınar bound trams stop here.
Havagazı 1 side platform None Only Fahrettin Altay bound trams stop here currently.
Alsancak Stadyumu 1 side platform None Only Halkapınar bound trams stop here.
Alsancak Gar 1 island platform İZBAN, Bus
Atatürk Spor Salonu 2 side platforms None
Hocazade Camii 1 island platform Bus
Kültürpark - Atatürk Lisesi 1 island platform Bus
Gazi Bulvarı 2 side platforms Metro, Bus
Konak İskele 2 side platforms Ferry, Metro, Bus
Karataş 2 side platforms None
Karantina 2 side platforms Ferry
Köprü 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
Sadıkbey 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
Göztepe 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
Güzelyalı 2 side platforms Ferry Staggered platforms
Ahmed Adnan Saygun Sanat Merkezi 2 side platforms Bus Staggered platforms
Üçkuyular 2 side platforms Ferry, Bus
Fahrettin Altay 1 island platform Metro, Bus

T3 Çiğli Tram Line (Ring)

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The Çiğli Tram is 12 km (7.5 mi) long and serves 14 stations. The tram line is operating with 2 lines. The Red (Outer) Line, and the Blue (Inner) Line. [13] The line opened on 27 January, 2024[14]

 


Çiğli Tram Red Line
Station Platform Connection Notes
Ataşehir Kavşağı 1 island platform T1 Tram (Green Line), Bus
Semra Aksu 1 island platform İZBAN, Bus
Eski Havaalanı 1 island platform None
Yenimahalle 1 island platform Bus
Çiğli Bölge Hastanesi 1 island platform Bus
Ata Sanayi 1 island platform None
Evka 5 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi 1 island platform None Only Red Line trams stop here.
İAOSB Nedim Uysal Lisesi 2 side platforms Bus Staggered platforms
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Bulvarı 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
İAOSB Müdürlüğü 2 side platforms Bus Staggered platforms
Kemal Baysak 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
Nihat Karakartal 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
Nazım Hikmet Ran 1 island platform None
Ataşehir Kavşağı 1 island platform T1 Tram (Green Line), Bus
Çiğli Tram Blue Line
Station Platform Connection Notes
Ataşehir Kavşağı 1 island platform T1 Tram (Green Line), Bus
Nazım Hikmet Ran 1 island platform None
Nihat Karakartal 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
Kemal Baysak 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
İAOSB Müdürlüğü 2 side platforms Bus Staggered platforms
Mustafa Kemal Atatürk Bulvarı 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
İAOSB Nedim Uysal Lisesi 2 side platforms Bus Staggered platforms
Evka 5 2 side platforms None Staggered platforms
Ata Sanayi 1 island platform None
Çiğli Bölge Hastanesi 1 island platform Bus
Yenimahalle 1 island platform Bus
Eski Havaalanı 1 island platform None
Semra Aksu 1 island platform İZBAN, Train, Bus
Ataşehir Kavşağı 1 island platform T1 Tram (Green Line), Bus

Service

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The system operates 24/7 with a varying headway.[5] On the Karşıyaka and Çiğli line, there is a ten-minute headway. On the Konak line, during Monday through Saturday, there is a six/seven and a half-minute headway and during Sunday, there is a seven and a half/ten-minute headway.[15] In 2018, İzmir Tram transported 110,000 passengers per day.[1]

Future Developments

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A new line from Yeni Girne to Örnekköy is in its tender phase. Construction is set to begin in early 2024.

Infrastructure

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The system operates on its own right of way as well as automobile lanes, despite the latter utilized less so, and is electrified with 750 V DC overhead wire and consists of Communications-based train control (CBTC) signalling.[16] Most of the network is double-tracked, except for a short portion between Karşıyaka pier and Alaybey. The tracks are standard track gauge at 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in).Both lines will have their own storage and maintenance depots, in Mavişehir and Halkapınar respectively. The tramcars are produced by Hyundai Rotem plant in Adapazarı. The double-ended 32 m (105 ft)-long five-module tramcars are each 43.1 t heavy. They have 48 seating capacity, and can carry up to 285 passengers each. Service speed is 24 km/h (15 mph), and top speed is 70 km/h (43 mph).

 
Tram construction in Alsancak

Each station is wheelchair-accessible and consists of its own platform, segregated from any sidewalk or street. Information panels showing the real-time status of the next tram are installed in all operating stations.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "İzmir Tramvayı '21 milyon' dedi" (in Turkish). İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. 23 November 2018. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  2. ^ "İşte her yönüyle İzmir'in tramvayı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2015-10-14. Retrieved 2017-04-12.
  3. ^ a b "Tram İzmir web sitesi" (in Turkish). Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Tram İzmir resmi twitter sayfası" (in Turkish). Retrieved 1 December 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Transportation Guide". İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Archived from the original on 29 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  6. ^ "İzmir Tramvayı'na kalite belgesi" (in Turkish). İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. 24 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  7. ^ Ömer Tolga Sümerli Archived 2011-02-15 at the Wayback Machine - The history of Alsancak terminal.
  8. ^ "İşte İzmir'in yeni metro projeleri!". izmiraltasemlak.com (in Turkish). 9 June 2008. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  9. ^ "İzmir'e 28 km tramvay hattı". milliyet.com.tr (in Turkish). 28 May 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  10. ^ "..Ve tramvay start verdi". izmir.bel.tr (in Turkish). 3 July 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  11. ^ "Tramvay Geliyor". izmirmetro.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  12. ^ "Karşıyaka Tramvayı'nın 17 Aracı Da Geldi". rayhaber.com.tr (in Turkish). 16 February 2017. Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  13. ^ "Haberler | Çiğli Tramvayı yola çıkıyor". www.izmir.bel.tr (in Turkish). İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyesi. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
  14. ^ "Çiğli Tramvayı hizmete girdi" [Çiğli Tramway is in service] (in Turkish). 2024-01-27.
  15. ^ "Sefer Sıklığı" (in Turkish). tramizmir.com. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 29 November 2018.
  16. ^ "Hyundai-Rotem'in Hibrid Tramvayı İzmir'e Geliyor". Rail Turkey (in Turkish). 2014-09-22. Retrieved 2017-04-12.