Marmaray, the rail
connection between European and Asian
Istanbul via a tunnel beneath the Bosphorus,
is scheduled to be completed and open
to service in 2013.
When it opens, many public transport
routes in Istanbul will change.
For the first time in history, trains
and passengers will be able to travel
from Europe directly to Asia through
Istanbul without having to transfer
to a ferryboat.
The suburban train systems on the
European and Asian shores will be unified
in the new Marmaray system.
New underground stations at Yenikapı,
Sirkeci, Üsküdar,
and Söğütlüçeşme will
make it easy for Marmaray passengers
to connect to Istanbul's Metro,
city bus and ferryboat networks.
The historic terminal intercity/international
train stations of Sirkeci
Garı and Haydarpaşa
Garı will be retired from
train service and renovated
for new uses.
