# İzmir Metro

The İzmir Metro (Turkish: İzmir Metrosu) is a light metro system serving the city of İzmir, Turkey. The current system, consisting of one line, starts from Kaymakamlık station in the southwestern portion of the metropolitan area and runs towards northeast to end at Evka-3 in Bornova. İzmir's metro line is 27 kilometres (17 mi) long, and serves 24 stations as of 4 March 2024.

## Overview

By 1990, it was thought that the existing public transport system in Izmir could no longer support the growing population. A plan was thought of to build a rapid transit network by rail to cope with this. A contract was signed in 1993, and the handover was in 1994. Construction had begun in 1995 and it was completed successfully in around 4 years. In May 2000, the system came into public service. Up to that moment, the total cost of the system had been $US 600 million. Yapı Merkezi was the main contractor for all design and civil works (tunnels, bridges, viaducts, stations, tracks, infrastructure, depots and workshops) as well as the third-rail power system.
AdTranz was responsible for the rolling stock and the signalling, power-supply and communication systems. (ABB Traction was subsequently purchased by Daimler and became AdTranz only to be purchased later by Bombardier.) The Izmir Light Rail Vehicle (LRV) is tailor-made for the LRTS. It is 3.67 m (12 ft 0 in) high (from head of rail), 2.65 m (8 ft 8 in) wide, and 23.5 m (77 ft 1 in) long (over couplers) with a maximum speed of 80 km/h (50 mph). The maximum acceleration is 1 m/s/s (2.2 mph/s) with a seating capacity of 44 and a standing capacity of 140.
All LRVs are self-powered and the drive and braking systems (with wheel-slip protection) are controlled by on-board computer. A train consists of two to five vehicles with driver's cabin at each end. The LRV is a six-axle articulated unit with three bogies. The first and last bogies are powered while the articulated bogie is trailing. The auxiliary power system is based on a static converter-inverter, supplied from a 750 VDC third rail and supplying 3-phase x 400 VAC at 50 Hz for compressor, fans, lights, battery charging, etc. The 24 VDC battery system supplies the on-board computer as well as other safety systems such as automatic train control (ATC), train radio, passenger displays, emergency lights, etc. The tunnel safety aspects have top priority.
A more ambitious rapid transit system, named İZBAN connects the north of the city, Aliağa to the south terminus of Cumaovası, via Adnan Menderes Airport and several other important financial and commercial areas such as Karşıyaka and Alsancak. The İzban and Metro will provide interchange with each other at Halkapınar station.
By the end of 2011, the Metro, or any other transport system in the city will no longer accept cash, or the jeton, (token) which is brought by cash and used to pass the ticket barriers at the stations. The Metro carries about 30 million passengers/year and to the end of September 2005 160 million passengers had travelled since the opening in May 2000.

## Stations

| Station | Opening | Structure Construction | Structure Platform | Tracks | Transfer |
| Evka 3 | 30 March 2012 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| Ege Üniversitesi | 30 March 2012 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| Bornova | 22 May 2000 | Splitting Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| Bölge | 22 May 2000 | Grade | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| Sanayi | 22 May 2000 | Grade | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| Stadyum | 22 May 2000 | Viaduct | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| Halkapınar | 22 May 2000 | Grade | 2 Island Platforms | 3 | Bus, Tram, and Izban |
| Hilal | 22 May 2000 | Viaduct | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Izban |
| Basmane | 22 May 2000 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus, National rail |
| Çankaya | 22 May 2000 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus, Tram |
| Konak | 22 May 2000 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus, Tram, and Ferry (nonstandard walking distance) |
| Üçyol | 22 May 2000 | Deep Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| İzmirspor | 29 December 2012 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| Hatay | 29 December 2012 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| Göztepe | 25 March 2014 | Deep Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| Poligon | 26 July 2014 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| Güzelyalı | Cancelled but station shaft prepared for future use | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus |
| Fahrettin Altay | 26 July 2014 | Cut-and-Cover Tunnel | 2 Side Platforms | 2 | Bus, Tram |
| Balçova | 24 February 2024 | Deep Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| Çağdaş | 24 February 2024 | Deep Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Hastanesi | 24 February 2024 | Deep Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| Güzel Sanatlar | 24 February 2024 | Deep Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| Narlıdere İtfaiye | 24 February 2024 | Deep Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| 100. Yıl Cumhuriyet Şehitlik | 24 February 2024 | Deep Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |
| Kaymakamlık | 4 March 2024 | Deep Tunnel | 1 Island Platform | 2 | Bus |

## Future extensions

| Line | Stations | Status |
| Evka 3 - Bornova Merkez | 1 | Project tenders complete. Construction tenders took place in 2016. Halted by court order. |
| Üçyol - Çamlıkule | 11 | Construction started in 2022. |
| Narlıdere Kaymakamlık - Zeytinalanı | 11 | No progress. |
| Konak - Menderes | 18 | The project is approved by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. |
| Halkapınar - Otogar (Intercity Bus Terminal) | 5 | The project is planned to be built as an İZBAN line instead of a metro. (This project is being evaluated together with the planned Ankara-İzmir High Speed Rail Line, of which the first part of construction has begun.) |