M1A (Istanbul Metro)

The 22 stations scoring line M1 Metro Istanbul is operated by the Istanbul transport company İstanbul ulaşım and operated from the historical heart of Istanbul starting several westernmost parts of the city. Today's M1A line connects to a length of 19.6 kilometers from the airport Ataturk with the Aksaray neighborhood. The western branch M1B has an additional length of 5.8 km and is one of five stations, four of which are in the tunnel.

History

The growing population of Istanbul and the associated, ever expanding outward settlement areas mean that the existing bus system rapidly reaches its limits in terms of capacity and aufzuwendender travel times. The city had until the opening of the M1 not an efficient rapid transit system more. The previously existing tramway network was finally closed down in 1969, so that the Tünel ( one running in the tunnel funicular ) was the only remaining electrically operated public transport. The M1 line was a first step towards the Istanbul much needed modern rapid transit system for the movement of large numbers of passengers.

On 3 September 1989, the M1 was opened on of the 8.5 km stretch from Aksaray to Kartaltepe. She was thus the first rail line in Turkey and put the beginning of the development of modern public transport systems in the Turkish cities. In December of the same year, the route was extended to Esenler, where in 1994 the bus station was opened Esenler. In the years 1994, 1995 and 1999 further expansion stages, until 2002, the current endpoint at Istanbul Ataturk Airport has been reached.

The M1 line was not initially referred to as ' Metro' - line, but as ' Hafif Metro ' ( German ' light metro '), as in Istanbul at first light rail system such as was planned in Cologne or Stuttgart. The M1, however, was built from the beginning on the entire route as a full subway with its own track body without points of contact with the road or other rail traffic, so it was eventually still bear the term ' Metro '. The original conception as ' Hafif Metro ' is still shown by the fact that in 2007 an actual ' Hafif Metro ' below the line designation T4 into operation between Topkapi and Sultançiftliği, with the M1 part of the same type trains shares. The names with the letter ' M' ( Metro) at the M1 and 'T' ( Tramvay, German tram or streetcar) at the T4 front of the line numbers are therefore derived not from the used vehicle the material, but from the different state of development of the routes.

The M1 is shown on the network plans of Istanbul ulaşım wire which is colored red.

Vehicles and Technology

The gauge on the M1 is, as well as on all other Istanbul metro routes, 1,435 mm ( standard gauge ). Unlike conventional subways the M1 gets its driving power from an overhead line. The line has been designed as part of the originally planned light rail concept so in order to use the vehicles used on the lines T1 and T4 can. The vehicles were built in the mid 1980s by SGP in Graz. A train consists of three coupled dual carriage.

Course

Common course of the lines M1A and M1B from Aksaray to OTOGAR

The M1 line starts at the subterranean station Aksaray on the western edge of the historic old town. There is within easy walking distance to transfer to a tram line T1. Until the station Ulutbatlı - Topkapı where there is an interchange with the station Vatan rail line T4, the route runs underneath the Adnan Menderes Boulevard in a north-westerly direction. At the station Kartaltepe - Kocatepe the route bends to the southwest. On OTOGAR station, the M1 branch to each a branch to the south ( M1A ) and west ( M1B ).

Continue the line M1A

The southern branch then continues to the exhibition center and the Ataturk Airport. It this happens the interchange station Zeytinburnu, which allows a further transition to the tram line T1. The stations Bahçelievler and Havalimani ( = airport ) over the rest were built underground.

Continue the line M1B

The Westast initially runs until Esenler above ground and then opens in front of the station Menderes in a tunnel. The further course to the terminus in Kirazlı where to transfer to metro line M3 is is completely underground. In BAGCILAR can be switched to the tram line T1.

Link to the Marmarayprojekt - early enlargement after Yenikapı

In the southeast the line of Aksaray has been extended to Yenikapı underground. The 900 meter long connection can accommodate passenger service when the local new central station is opened to traffic. There, a transfer to Metro Line M2, to Europe with Asia joined the Marmaray commuter train, long-distance trains and ferries is then expected to be available from 2014. This was the Marmaraytunnel - put into operation just before the M1 connection between Aksaray and Yenikapı is opened - on 29 October 2013.

Importance

The M1 is an important connecting line for the traffic in Istanbul. On their line path are not only some interchange stations (including in Merter, Bahçelievler and Ataköy ) for Metrobüs which connects the European to the Asian side of Istanbul, but also the remote bus Esenler. In Turkey are bus stations for public transport is of central importance, since most of the internal tourist traffic is handled with coaches. In addition, a rapid transit connection from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport is made to the city center with the M1.

Already before the enlargement of the M1B line M1 was used by 220,000 passengers a day. After closing the gap in the west to Kirazlı and still in 2013 planned extension of Aksaray to Yenikapı - with connection to the S -Bahn and M2 a closed speed rail network in Istanbul in 2013 for the first time emerged.