ANKARA (AA) – The Marmaray Project connecting the Asian and European sides of Istanbul through a railway tunnel connection under the Istanbul Strait will be opened on October 29, the 90th aniversary of the Turkish Republic's founding, with the participation of PM Erdogan and President Gul.
The Project is currently among the major transportation infrastructure projects in the world as the railway system will measure approximately 76 kms in total. The main structures and systems include the immersed tube tunnel, bored tunnels, cut-and-cover tunnels, at-grade structures, three new underground stations, 37 surface stations (renovation and upgrading), operations control centre, yards, workshops, maintenance facilities, upgrades of existing tracks including a new third track, new electrical and mechanical systems and modern railway vehicles.
Reliefs inspired by the pieces belonging to the Neolithic, Byzantine and Ottoman periods will cover the stations' entrances and interiors. Besides, the remains of a shipwreck dating to the 4th to 5th centuries AD, catalogued by archaeologists as "Lagan number 12," will also be exhibited in the art board at Yenikapi Station.
Ongoing archeological efforts along the Marmaray project discovered 13 shipwrecks and around 35 thousand historic relics and pieces. These pieces will be exhibited in the museum to be established in the Yenikapi Hundred Islands area named Arkeopark.
The Marmaray is expected to transport around 1 million people per day by connecting the Asian and European sides of Istanbul in 4 minutes.
The travel durations are listed as follows:
Between Gebze and Halkali 105 minutes
Between Bostanci and Bakirkoy 37 minutes
Between Sogutlucesme and Yenikapi 12 minutes
Between Uskudar and Sirkeci 4 minutes
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