Bostancı railway station

Bostancı station in 2005.

Bostancı station was originally built by the Ottoman government, as part of a railway from Kadıköy to İzmit, and was opened on 22 September 1872.[1][2] The station, along with the railway, was sold to the Ottoman Anatolian Railway (CFOA) which operated the railway until 1924. In 1909, the CFOA began frequent train service from Haydarpaşa and Pendik, stopping at Bostancı station, which was expanded and rebuilt in 1910.[3] Frequent service to Bostancı promoted development in the area. Many houses with large gardens were built around the station for Constantinople's wealthy residents, who used the train service to commute into the city. Between 1912 and 1913, a ferry pier was built, just 90 m (300 ft) south of the station.[3]

In 1924, the CFOA went through a process of nationalization by the newly formed Republic of Turkey. In that year, the CFOA was bought by the Turkish government and merged with the Baghdad Railway into the Anatolian—Baghdad Railways (CFAB).[2] In 1927, the CFAB was bought by the State Railways and Seaports Administration, the direct successor of the Turkish State Railways.

The State Railways double-tracked the railway from Haydarpaşa to Gebze in 1949 and in 1951 began commuter rail service on the line. The station was electrified in 1969 with overhead wire, when TCDD began operating electric commuter rail service. In the 1980s, the waterfront of Bostancı was extended approximately 90 m (300 ft) outward, via land reclamation, extending the distance between the station and the ferry pier. On 31 March 2004, the station was given heritage status protecting the station building in anticipation of the Marmaray project.[3] Intercity train service was discontinued west of Arifiye in 2012, followed by all train service in 2013 for the construction of the Marmaray commuter rail system. The rails were torn up shortly after but construction halted due to problems with the contractor. Construction restarted in 2016 with the demolition of the station platforms. Bostancı station is expected to reopen on 10 March 2019, along with the entire Marmaray rail line.

The pre-Marmaray Bostancı station consisted of 1 island platform and 1 side platform serving three tracks. Since the railway was only double-tracked, the third track (south side) was used as a passing loop to allow intercity or regional trains to pass local commuter trains. The third track would diverge from the main tracks before the station and connect back after the station. On the west side, the third track crossed the eastbound and connected to the westbound track and on the east side, the third track connected to only the eastbound track. The middle platform could be accessed via an underpass from Bağdat Avenue to Bahçelerarası Street, on the other side. The station building is located on the north side of the station and will not be altered or demolished, due to its heritage status.

Connections to IETT city bus service and Istanbul Minibus service as well İDO and Şehir Hatları ferry service is available. Bus service can be accessed via two stops, one on Bağdat Avenue and one on Çetin Emeç Boulevard, on the waterfront.[4][5] Ferry service can be accessed from two landings; Municipal Şehir Hatları ferries stop at the historic Bostancı Pier, while İDO sea-bus ferries stop at the adjacent Bostancı Ferry Terminal.

A 14.2 km (8.8 mi) long metro line to Dudullu is under construction and connection to its southern terminus will be available from Bostancı station. The line is expected to open in 2019.