Ä°stanbul Sirkeci Terminal

Banliyö Trenleri Sirkeci - Halkalı

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The Istanbul Sirkeci Train Station (Turkish: Sirkeci Railway ) is a railway station of the Turkish State Railways (TCDD ) in Sirkeci, a district on the European side of Istanbul (Turkey). International, domestic and regional trains westward from this station. This head station became famous mostly as the terminus of the Orient Express to fame. For trains to the east is the Istanbul Haydarpaşa Station on the Asian side of the starting point.

The railroad

After the Crimean War, it was decided that a train service between Europe and Istanbul had to be built. The first contract was signed in January 1857 by a British parliamentarian called Labro. This contract has already been terminated three months later, as he was unable to provide the investment capital needed. Similar contracts from the years 1860 and 1868, signed by British and Belgian entrepreneurs, ended with the same result.

On April 17, 1869, the concession for the " Rumeli Railroad " Compagnie des Chemins de fer Orientaux of Baron Hirsch was (actually Moritz Freiherr Hirsch on Gereuth ), a Bavarian printer Belgian banker awarded. The project provided a route from Istanbul via Edirne, Plovdiv and Sarajevo before the bank of the Sava. The construction of the first 15 km from Istanbul to Halkalı began on 4 June 1870 and was completed on January 4, 1871. An extension of the line to Sirkeci was demanded as a starting point, because Yeşilköy was too far away from the commercial center Eminönü. The first option for the line was a route from Beyazit down to the shores of the Golden Horn. The Ottoman Sultan Abd -ul- Aziz decided and allowed the course of the route along the coastline of the Marmara Sea, adjacent to the walls of the lower gardens of Topkapi Palace. This extension of the line was completed on 21 July 1872. 1873 an end station in Sirkeci was built, which was then called the "temporary".

History of the station

The construction of a new building began on February 11, 1888. 's Head station, originally called Müşir Ahmet Paşa station was opened on 3 November 1890, replacing the temporary station at the same time from the year 1873. Architect of the project was August Jasmund, a Prussian construction officer, Mr, who was sent by the government to Istanbul to study Ottoman architecture.

The construction of the station complex on an area of ​​1200 square meters is one of the greatest examples of European Orientalism, which in turn influenced the designs of other architects. The building was then - due to its gas lighting and winter heating - as very modern.

The station restaurant was a meeting place for journalists, authors and other people from the media elite in the 1950s and 1960s.

The building is largely in its original condition. The environment of the station, however, has changed considerably since 1890.

In connection with the Marmaray project of a railway tunnel between Europe and Asia, an underground station of the new compound was opened on October 29, 2013 at Sirkeci Station. Construction is underway in connection with the Marmaray remains the historic station - except for scrapping - closed to traffic. Whether it will be opened after the end of construction 2015/2016 back to the passenger remains uncertain. Plans to continue to be here end up arriving from Bulgaria trains, are in conflict with a targeted through the city rededication to the cultural and tourist center.

In a room of the station a small railway museum has been established, which describes the history of the railway line to Istanbul. Outside the station a B -coupled steam locomotive from German production is set up as a memorial.

Today's international connections

Due to the works for upgrading of rail 2013 all passenger traffic was set in the summer. 2012, there were connections through Bulgaria and Romania. The previously existing connections to Greece, Serbia and Germany are no longer served.

Connections to the public transport

• S -Bahn Sirkeci - Halkalı
• Various bus routes
• Tram Kabataş - Zeytinburnu
• Eminönü ferry Kabataş
• Eminönü ferry Bostanci Prince Islands
• Car ferry from Eminönü Harem
• Eminönü Ferry Station Haydarpaşa