Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Tahir Büyükakın introduced the new tram vehicles in front of Ulasimpark. Stating that they will increase the capacity of trams, Mayor Büyükakın gave the good news: "We will start working with double trams with coupling work as of December 2024."
“WE WILL INCREASE THE CAPACITY”
Speaking at the program where the first two of the 10 newly purchased trams were put into operation, Mayor Büyükakın said, “When the Alikahya tram line is completed, a 3.8 km tram line will be added to our existing route. When this work is completed, 90 thousand passengers will be transported on our tram lines. When we first started, the tram line was expected to carry 14 thousand passengers. These figures were exceeded in a short time. Along with the Alikahya tram line project, we are also working on existing tram stops. We will expand our stations. "We will make it fit for 2 trams attached end to end," he said.
“STOPS WILL GROW WITHIN 1 YEAR”
Continuing his speech, Mayor Büyükakın said, “With the expansion of the stations, we ordered tram vehicles suitable for these stations. We purchased 10 tram vehicles. Two of them were delivered to us today. 8 more vehicles will be delivered in the coming period. Coupling works at our existing stations will be completed within 1 year. However, as of December 2024, our trams will start to operate in pairs. We carry around 70 thousand passengers daily on the tram. These figures will also increase. "We aim to increase the share of rail systems in public transportation," he said.
MAYOR BÜYÜKAKIN DID THE FIRST DRIVE
After the speech, the 2 tram vehicles received were put on the rails. Mayor Büyükakın made the first test drive of the vehicle. The new vehicles, which are 28 to 33 meters long, will be able to operate single and double on the existing line.