Marmaray, a 150 years old dream became reality.

[xenon54 out]

A 150 years old dream became reality.

Marmaray officially opened yesterday at the 90th celebrations of Republic of Turkey.

http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/ma...orrow.aspx?pageID=238&nID=56949&NewsCatID=341


Short info from Wiki:

Marmaray is a rail transport project in the Turkish city of Istanbul. It comprises an undersea rail tunnel under the Bosphorus strait, and the modernization of existing suburban railway lines along the Sea of Marmara from Halkalı on the European side to Gebze on the Asian side. The procurement of new rolling stock for suburban passenger traffic is also part of the project. Construction started in 2004, with an initial target opening date of April 2009. After multiple delays due to historical finds, the first phase of the project opened on October 29, 2013.
The name Marmaray comes from combining the name of the Sea of Marmara, which lies just south of the project site, with ray, the Turkish word for rail.

More infos:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmaray

Facts:
76.3 km - total lenght of Project
1.387 m - Tunnel segments set underwater
9.8 km - Tunnel digged with TBM
100 km/h - maximum speed in Tunnel
13.6 km - Total lenght of Tunnel
1.8 % - maximum Slope
10 min. - maximum time between Trains
1.9 km - avarage distance between Stations.
37- Stations
Cost of project so far, 5 billion $.


The plan from 1860, during Sultan 2. Abdülhamid time.
http://uk.reuters.com/article/2013/10/29/uk-turkey-tunnel-idUKBRE99S0L620131029

Marmaray today

Istanbuls Mayor Kadir Topbas

A short video news with some interesting infos

 

[Oublious]

Ten years later marmaray wil not enough for Istanbul. At least i can go from other side of the city to other side in 60 min and not 3 hours. Its a big time project and isnt stil ready!

 

[T-123456]

Its a good start!