| İzmir Metro | |
|---|---|
An Üçyol bound train at Halkapınar station. |
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| Info | |
| Locale | İzmir |
| Transit type | Rapid Transit |
| Number of lines | 1 (2 planned) |
| Number of stations | 10 |
| Headquarters | Halkapınar |
| Website | İzmir Metro |
| Operation | |
| Began operation | April, 2000 |
| Operator(s) | İzmir Metrosu A.Ş. |
| Number of vehicles | 45 |
| Technical | |
| Electrification | 750 V DC Third rail |
İzmir Metro (İzmir Metrosu) is a subway network (rapid transit over the surface in parts) in İzmir, Turkey that is constantly being extended with new stations being put in service. The network, consisting of one line, starts from Üçyol station in Hatay in the southern portion of the metropolitan area and runs towards northeast to end in Bornova. The line is 11.6 km (7.2 mi) long.
The stations are: 1) Üçyol, 2) Konak, 3) Çankaya, 4) Basmane, 5) Hilal, 6) Halkapınar, 7) Stadyum, 8) Sanayi, 9) Bölge, 10) Bornova. An extension of the line between Üçyol and Üçkuyular, which aims to serve the southern portion of the city more efficiently, is currently under construction.
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 $US600 million. Yapi 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 3760-mm high (from head of rail), 2650-mm wide, and 23,500-mm long (over couplers) with a maximum speed of 80 km/h. The maximum acceleration is 1.0 m/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 bogieıışs 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
Basic fare on the Metro is 1.70 TL if the Kentkart is used. 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.
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