Istanbul nostalgic tramways

After closing the tram network in the mid-1960s, the people of Istanbul thought this old fashioned method of smooth city traveling had been removed, and transport within the city would move faster than before, but this proved false some years later. The uncontrolled increase of petrol vehicles such as buses, taxis, and private cars started choking the streets of Istanbul. Turkey suffered many of the problems of developing countries, including pollution, traffic jams, illegal migration, low literacy and rapid increase of population etc. A growing population increased the urbanization of Istanbul, and with it more motor vehicles which increased air and sound pollution, traffic jams and smog. The city became slower than in the tram era. From the early 1970s, these problems increased and by the mid-1980s Istanbulians realized that lack of control of motor vehicles and the closure of the tram network were great mistakes. Due to constantly increasing traffic jams and air pollution, Istanbul became one of the most polluted Eurasian cities during the mid-1980s, which caused not only increasing diseases of citizens, but also lost tourists. Many cities around the world like Tunis, Sydney, Buenos Aires etc. also understood that error, and like them, Istanbul also planned for the return of trams.

Understanding the great mistake of the closure of the tram system, the government planned to decrease pollution as soon as possible, and to recover the image of Istanbul among tourists. Looking at many cities around the world (e.g. Lima and Buenos Aires), the authorities planned to bring trams back to Istanbul. By then, the number of cars and buses had increased so much that starting a completely new tramway was not possible at that time. Instead they planned an experimental heritage tramway, mindful of the lower installation cost, mainly as tourist attraction, and as a test system with the younger generations in Istanbul to see how trams would be accepted.

The Authority thought to re-introduce heritage trams in Istanbul using the same type of rolling stock which was running in European part until 1962, and in the Asian part until 1966. The original Istanbul tram network was almost completely destroyed, including depots, termini, electric power stations, etc., except for some of the rolling stock which had been preserved in transport museums. Using old photographs, people's memories, and other sources, some rolling stock was built for the European side resembling pre-1962 European-side tram stock, including the size, shape, interior, color scheme etc. The prototypes had originally been built in 1915.

Around 1990, the Istiklal Caddesi became a pedestrian zone, and the tram was restored and revived in 1990, in the form of the Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway. After a 24-year absence, trams returned to Istanbul. The length of the line is 1.64 kilometers (1.02 mi)[2] and there are 5 stops.

After the Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway gained in popularity, mainly among tourists, another heritage tramway opened in 2003 on the Asian side of Istanbul, as what is now known as the T3 line (or the Kadıköy-Moda Nostalgia Tramway). In the case of the T3 line, first-generation trams were not re-installed along the route. Instead, secondhand trams from Germany were acquired, mostly from the Jena tram system,[3] which were built in the Berlin area or in Gotha (see Rolling stock section, below).

Trams on the T3 line run on a clockwise circular loop, following roughly the old tram Route 20. The length of the line is 2.6 kilometers (1.6 mi) and there are 10 stops.[1]

There are two heritage tramways in Istanbul – the European side tramway, Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway (also sometimes called the T2 line), runs from Taksim to Tünel; the Asian side tramway, the T3 line (also called the Kadıköy-Moda Nostalgia Tramway), runs as a clockwise circular route from Kadikoy to Moda and back to Kadikoy. The European side T2 tramline follows an alignment of Istanbul's previous historic tram network, which was served by Routes 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17. The Asian side T3 tramline uses the previous Route 20 (operating on a portion of that route).

European side tramline: T2 Line (Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway)

Tünel terminus of the T2 line

• Total length – 1.6 kilometers (0.99 mi)[2]
• Opened – 29 December 1990[2]
• Operating hours – 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.
• Frequency – 10 to 20 minutes.
• Fare – TL 1.75

Alignment

Tram depot close to the Taksim

Both nostalgic tramlines run on unreserved tracks, in regular street running operation.

The length of the European side Taksim-Tünel (T2) tramline is 1.6 kilometers (0.99 mi), with 5 stops, including the Taksim and Tünel termini. The line runs between Taksim and Tunel via İstiklal Caddesi (Independence Avenue). This road was formerly used by tram, bus & car. After the original tram line closed in 1962, the street was still used by buses and cars until 1990, when the area (Beyoğlu) was recognized as a heritage area because of the many historic buildings and shops. The municipal authority decided to convert this area to a pedestrian zone, banned most vehicles (taxis and delivery vehicles are still permitted) and resurfaced the road in concrete with a tactile finish. Many medium trees were planted in both the footpath and road and old-fashioned street lamps and curved chairs were also installed. Tram tracks were laid in the middle of the road as a single line, with a passing siding at Galatasaray Square that allows trams from opposite directions to pass each other. As the area is a popular entertainment and nightlife district, the driver must frequently ring the bell to clear the way of pedestrians, especially during the peak tourist season. Approximate passenger volume for this system is 6,000 people per day. Interchange with the Istanbul Metro (M2 line) is possible at Taksim and Şishane..

The length of the Asian side T3 tramline is 2.6 kilometers (1.6 mi) and there are 10 stations. The single-track loop has no sidings so all trams travel in a clockwise direction from Kadıköy Square along a bus lane, Bahariye Street, and Moda Street. Approximate passenger volume for this system is 2,000 people per day. The roads were resurfaced with concrete, but are also used by other road vehicles.

Heritage trams are often lowly respected in Istanbul, such as illegal riding like this

On the European side T23 line, the tramcars are original Istanbul cars, from the first-generation tramway (closed in 1966), which were restored in the 1980s for use on the heritage tramway. During peak season, a trailer is often coupled to the motored tram for extra capacity. As of 2008, the motored trams include car 47, built in 1913; car 223, built in 1928; and car 410. Trailers are 411 and 418, built in Germany in 1914 and 1919, respectively.[3]

On Asian side T3 line, the trams are secondhand from tram systems in Germany. All are two-axle trams of similar design, but made by two different builders and acquired from two different tram systems, both located in what was East Germany at the time these trams were built. Istanbul cars 201 and 203, which have four windows on each side, are a type of tram known as Rekowagen (de), built by Reichsbahnausbesserungswerk Berlin-Schöneweide (de), and were previously Jena tram system car 138 and Schöneiche–Rüdersdorf Tramway car 75. Car 202 was built by Gothaer Waggonfabrik (of Gotha) and is type Gotha T57, with three windows per side, and before being acquired by Istanbul it was No. 102 of the Jena tram system.[3] Four more trams of type Gotha T57 were acquired from Jena in 2006. They were given fleet numbers 204–207 (ex-Jena 104, 110, 112 and 115, not necessarily in that order), but do not show their fleet numbers on the exterior, wearing advertisements instead.[3] Ex-Jena cars 102 (now Istanbul 202) and 138 (now Istanbul 201) were built in 1958 and 1973, respectively.[4] Ex-Jena 104, 110, 112 and 115 were built in 1960, 1961, 1958 and 1959, respectively, and the last three had been in the fleet of the Görlitz tram system until 1992.[5] Ex-Schöneiche tramway car 75, now Istanbul 203, was built in 1975 (but to a 1950s design).[4]

Tünel, Moda & Kadiköy are the three places where both past system's & today's nostalgic system's termini are present. The current termini were built after complete redesign of Tünel, Moda & Kadiköy area. Taksim is still the city centre of Istanbul, which is now served by European side heritage tram.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Istanbul nostalgic tram.

• – Taksim Nostalgic Tramvay official site (IETT)
• T3 Kadikoy – Moda Heritage Tramline official page (in Turkish)
• Official History of Istanbul Tram with old photos
• Heritage tram of Istanbul at a glance