International Railway Journal - October 2008 - (Page 29a) Middle East Constructing Istanbul’s Kadiköy - Kartal metro line Public transport in Turkey’s largest city is set to be transformed over the next five years by an ambitious programme of metro construction. Dr Süleyman Açikbas of Avrasya Metro Grubu describes the construction of the first metro line on the Asian (Anatolian) side of the city. I STANBUL has a population of more than than 12.5 million, spread along both sides of the Bosphorus. The geographical dispersal of the population over such a large area creates a big traffic problem in the city. Congestion is worsening because of an increase in car ownership, and more significantly, the lack of a comprehensive public transport network. Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has ambitious plans to improve public transport in this mega city, including expansion of the light rail and metro networks. “Five years ago Istanbul had 44km of light rail and metro lines: today it has 66km and the suburban network is being upgraded as part of the Marmaray project,” explains Mr Yalcin Eyigun, director of rail systems for IMM. “There is currently around 60km of new metro line under construction, which will be completed by 2011. The Kadiköy - Kartal line is the first metro line on the Anatolian side of the city. The 21.8km line starts adjacent to the Bosphorus ferry terminal at Kadiköy and follows the E5/D100 highway, one of Istanbul’s most congested traffic corridors. The first intermediate station after Kadiköy is Ibrahimaga, where an interchange will be constructed with the Marmaray line, which will link both shores of the Bosphorus from 2010. The line will have 16 stations and a capacity of 70,000 passengers per hour per direction. The project was initially tendered in 2004 as a surface light rail line. The civil works contract was awarded to AnadoluRay, a consortium of Turkish companies. AnadoluRay began construction in February 2005, but work was halted when the local authorities decided to build an underground metro line instead. Because of the significant additional cost this entailed, new tenders were launched for the remaining civil works, and E&M works for the entire line. The new tender was won by the Avrasya Metro Grubu (AMG) consortium, and the ƒ751.2 million contract was signed with the IMM Rail Systems Directorate in March. AMG consists of consortium leader Astaldi, Italy (42%); Makyol, Turkey (41%); and Istanbul Mescid-i Selam Maslak depot Ayazaga 4 Levent Alibeyköy Ikitelli Bagcilar Mahmutbey Otogar Esenler Zeytinburnu G ol de n 1 Levent Sisli Gayrettepe Osmanbey Besiktas Kabatas s u Taksim or h sp Bo Üsküdar 1 Aksaray 2 Yenikapi 3 Sehzadebasi 4 Unkapani 5 Eminönü 6 Sirkeci 7 Karaköy 8 Tünel 9 Edirnekapi * Traditional tram + Funicular Ümraniye Cekmeköy 9 Halkali to Beylikdüzü * 4 7 +8 13 6 5 2 rn Sögutücesme Airport/ Yesilköy Bakirköy Haydarpasa Kadiköy Göztepe Sea of Marmara Open TCDD lines Metro Light metro Tram Being built Planned or proposed N 0 km 2 IRJ to Kartal and Kurktöy Airport to Gebze Gülermak, Turkey (17%). AMG will be in charge of supplementary construction, and supply, assembly and commissioning of electro-mechanical systems. AMG is responsible for electrical and mechanical works and station civil works along the entire route as well as tunnelling on the 12.8km Kozyatagi Kartal section, while AnadoluRay will carry out tunnelling work on the remainder of the line. The project is due for completion in September 2010. “We are doing our best to comply with this strict deadline,” says project manager Mr Olivio Angelini. “The tunnels were meant to be excavated by TBM. However, we are using the New Austrian Tunnelling Method at stations and in crossover areas.” The 16 stations will be built using open excavation and cut-andcover, according to location and site accessibility. A consultancy is advising AMG on electrical and mechanical systems engineering. Good engineering is crucial for minimising interface problems between the main sub-system contractors. The line will be fed by a 1.5kV dc supply using rigid catenary with an overhead conductor rail. The energysaving advantages of using a higher voltage convinced the engineers that this should be the standard voltage for almost all new metro lines in Istanbul. The line will be signalled with a CBTC moving block system, providing higher capacity and flexibility. The design capacity allows 90-second headways with eight-car trains. Trains will be driven by ATO between stations, with the driver operating the doors when the train is stationary. There are five switch and crossing zones along the line. A 4.7km, four-station extension from Kartal to Pendik is in the final stages of design. In the longer term, further extensions are planned, and the line will be connected to Sabiha Gokcen Airport, the first commercial airport on the Anatolian side of Istanbul. IRJ Ho 29a IRJ October 2008
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