World's Oldest Second Metro Tunnel 139. aged

The World's Oldest Second Subway Tunnel is 139 Years Old. General Manager of IETT Baraçlı: "The Tunnel, not only in Istanbul, Turkey is one of the most valuable brands" "Taksim, Istanbul Kabataş The funicular system was inspired by Tünel exactly 130 years after the construction of Tünel.
running between Beyoglu and Karaköy, Turkey's first, the world's second oldest subway "tunnel", this year celebrates its 139 years.
According to the statement made by IETT, the event was organized due to the 1863th age of Tünel, the world's second oldest subway, which came into service 12 years after the London Underground, which was founded in 139.
Tunnels were decorated with carnations and passengers were greeted with a concert by musicians. The concert will continue throughout the day.
The tunnel, which was opened with a ceremony attended by many domestic and foreign distinguished guests on January 17, 1875, was electrified in 1971. Taking the 573 meters distance between Karaköy and Beyoğlu in 90 seconds, the Tunnel carries around 200 thousand passengers, making an average of 12 trips per day.
“Tunnel is one of the most valuable brands of our country”
IETT General Manager, whose opinions were included in the statement, Hayri Baraçlı noted that it is very proud that the second oldest subway in the world is located in Istanbul.
The tunnel is not only Istanbul, Turkey's most valuable brands from one Baraçlı stating that, "IETT as to perpetuate this brand and to carefully protect the historic fabric of the tunnel so important for our quality of service. For this reason, we are going through the Tunnel daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, and we are trying to do whatever it takes to inherit this deep-rooted history to future generations. ”
Stating that it is one of the first examples of integrated public transportation, Tuncel is one of the first examples of integrated public transportation, with the feature of transporting passengers coming from Karaköy by sea transportation from Tunnel to nostalgic tram and metro. Kabataş The funicular system was inspired by Tünel 130 years after the construction of Tünel. Because of these features, the value of Tünel will never decrease for Istanbul in terms of transportation and nostalgia. ”
IETT General Manager Hayri Baraçlı gave information about the history of Tünel to elementary school students who visited Tünel due to their 139th birthday. Then he traveled in the Tunnel with the children and took pictures.
Tünel's history
The construction of the tunnel began with the initiatives of the French engineer Eugene Henri Gavand. Coming to Istanbul as a tourist, Gavand prepared a railway project that will connect Galata, the trade and banking center of the period, and Pera, the heart of social life, and appeared before the Ottoman Sultan Sultan Abdülaziz Han. The Tunnel, whose operating period was determined as 42 years, was built with the build-operate-transfer model and was opened to service in January 1875. The wooden wagons, which were open on both sides when Tünel started with a steam system, were illuminated with gas lamps since there was no electricity. Tunnel, which was separated from its passengers for a while because some materials could not be purchased during the Second World War, was completely renewed and electrified in 1971.
The world's second feature which is Turkey's first underground tunnel, type in the (underground), the world's first application. In the same period, the railways that operated with a similar mechanism in the cities such as Vienna, Pest, Lyon were operating on the ground. The tunnel stands out as the first application in the world because it operates underground.
The tunnel was put into service on January 17, 1875 with a great ceremony. The opening started by going between Galata and Pera, with wagons filled with guests.
With the introduction of Tünel, citizens were saved from fighting the High Rift. A 90-second journey replaced this hill, which was very difficult to climb. The reduction in wages by half in May of the opening year made Tunnel a cheap means of transportation. Therefore, the Tunnel succeeded in becoming indispensable for Istanbulites over time.
The entertainment life of Beyoğlu gained a more liveliness with the introduction of Tünel. Tunnel, which continues its quiet journey between Galata and Pera, has never left its passengers except in extraordinary situations such as war or accident.
As a sign that it was adopted in a short time, the square opposite Beyoğlu exit was called Tünel Square.