The M2 line, also referred as Üçyol–Çamlıkule Line (Turkish: Üçyol–Çamlıkule Hattı) is a planned ATO rapid transit line in İzmir, Turkey.[2][3] The line has a total length of 11.3 km (7.0 mi) and would begin at Üçyol and run southeast into Buca.[3] When completed, the line will become the sixth driverless metro line in Turkey, and the first in Izmir, after the M5, M7, M8, M12 and M14 lines in Istanbul. Construction started in February 14, 2022 and the line is expected to enter service in 2026. It will cost $765 million, and the yearly expected profit from operation is $45 million.[1]

Üçyol–Çamlıkule Line
Platforms on both sides with a double track rail line going in the middle. Station signs reading Üçyol, the station name, and the exits, are visible.
The western terminus of the line, Üçyol.
Overview
Native nameÜçyol–Çamlıkule Hattı
StatusUnder Construction
Ownerİzmir Metropolitan Municipality
Line number2
Localeİzmir, Turkey
Termini
Stations11
Service
TypeRapid transit
Systemİzmir Metro
ServicesÇamlıkule-Üçyol-Eşrefpaşa-Çamlıkule
Tınaztepe-Eşrefpaşa-Üçyol-Tınaztepe (limited service)
Operator(s)İzmir Metro A.Ş.
Depot(s)
  • Adatepe depot
  • Eşrefpaşa siding
Daily ridership400,000 (expected)[1]
History
Opened2026 (expected)
Technical
Line length11.3 km (7.0 mi)
Number of tracks2
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Minimum radius160 metres (520 ft)
Electrification750V DC Third rail, bottom contact
Operating speed100 km/h (62 mph)
SignallingUnattended operation with CBTC

History edit

Background edit

Buca is the most populous district in Izmir and is one of the city's oldest settlements. Despite this, the only form of public transportation (aside from buses) is the Southern Line of the İZBAN commuter rail system, which runs along the far west side of the district. Prior to 2006, a railway to Buca was in service which provided commuter trains to Basmane and Alsancak stations in central İzmir. The railway was closed down in 2006, due to construction of the Şirinyer Tunnel, thus leaving central Buca without any access to rail transportation.

Plans to construct a metro line to Buca were first announced in 2005, but due to problems with the construction of the Üçyol-Fahrettin Altay extension, these plans were suspended. In 2009, the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality released a master plan for public transportation in the city. Included in this plan was a tram line from Şirinyer to central Buca.[4] However, the Buca tram line was removed from the plan due to pressure from the Ministry of Transport.[5]

Planning edit

Once the Fahrettin Altay extension of the existing metro line was completed in 2014, the city shifted its focus to the Buca metro. The line was originally planned to consist of seven stations and terminate at Buca Koop., one station before Çamlıkule. The plans were handed to the Ministry of Transport for evaluation in August 2015.[6] The evaluation process took 12 months and was modified to extend the line from Buca Koop. to Çamlıkule as well as redesign the western end of the line as a loop.[3] West of General Asım Gündüz station, the line would split and form a loop with Üçyol placed at the top. The northeastern part of the loop would consist of a station at Zafertepe, while the southwestern part would consist of a station at Bozyaka. The two sections would meet at Üçyol.[3] A new maintenance facility in Tınaztepe was also included. The plan was finalized by the İzmir Municipality and submitted for an Environmental impact assessment in July 2017.[7][8] Construction is expected to begin in 2022 and completed by 2026. Due to a contest notice filed by the 9th September University, the maintenance facility location changed to Adatepe. This also required a minor change in the location of the Kasaplar station.[citation needed]

Construction edit

The groundbreaking ceremony was held in February 2022.[1]

Funding edit

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development agreed to a loan of €754.5 million in January 2020 to fund the line's construction.[9]

The construction tender will take place on 14 January 2021 and the construction will continue for four years.[10][11][12][13] The metro line will consist of 11 stations and will be 13,5 km long. All of the metro route will be constructed with deep tunnel.[14]

Stations edit

The line will consist of eleven stations, of which ten are new and one (Üçyol) will connect to the existing line. The list of stations are as follows:

References edit

  1. ^ a b c "Başkan Soyer: "Ekonomik krizin tam ortasında İzmir tarihinin en büyük yatırımını başlatıyoruz"". İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyesi (in Turkish). 2022-02-14. Retrieved 2022-02-17.
  2. ^ "Buca Metrosu". buca.bel.tr (in Turkish). Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  3. ^ a b c d "Üçyol-Buca Metrosu Çamlıkule'ye uzadı - son yenilikler, ne zaman başlıyor?". izmirlininsesi (in Turkish). 3 August 2016. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  4. ^ "İzmir'e 28 km tramvay hattı". milliyet.com.tr (in Turkish). 28 May 2010. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  5. ^ "Tramvay Geliyor". izmirmetro.com (in Turkish). Retrieved 6 November 2017.
  6. ^ "Buca Metrosu için ilk ihale yapıldı". izmir.bel.tr (in Turkish). 17 August 2015. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  7. ^ "Üçyol- Buca Metrosu'nun yapımına 2018'de başlanacak". ensonhaber.com (in Turkish). 13 July 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  8. ^ "Dosya kabul edildi! Üçyol-Buca metrosu için bir adım daha!". egedensonsoz.com (in Turkish). 11 July 2017. Retrieved 25 December 2017.
  9. ^ "EBRD finances Izmir metro civil works". Railway Gazette International. 16 January 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Izmir Light Rail System – Ucyol – Buca (Izmir Metro project III)". www.ebrd.com.
  11. ^ "Üçyol - Buca Metrosu için 80 milyon avroluk imza atıldı" (in Turkish). İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyesi. 11 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  12. ^ "Tunç Soyer: Hepsinin hesabını tek tek soracağız" (in Turkish). Tele1. 27 December 2019. Archived from the original on 29 December 2019. Retrieved 29 December 2019.
  13. ^ "Stratejik Plan 2020-2024" (PDF) (in Turkish). İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyesi. Archived (PDF) from the original on 17 July 2020. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
  14. ^ "Buca Metrosu yola çıktı" (in Turkish). İzmir Büyükşehir Belediyesi. 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.