Photos: DOPPELMAYR

Cities, SI-Urban

Garaventa’s new urban funicular in Istanbul

The opening of the funicular Rumeli Hisarüstü-Aşian Füniküler marks the completion of one of the most important transport projects in the city of Istanbul. The funicular, which is integrated into the public transport system, connects the Technical University with the Bosphorus, and therefore Europe with Asia. For Istanbul, this is already GARAVENTA's second ropeway.

Johanna Janisch

29. November 2022

In Istanbul, a new GARAVENTA funicular is expanding the city’s transport services and thus making an important contribution to linking the city’s Asian and European sides.

Once again, the major Turkish city is relying on the expertise of the Swiss cable car manufacturer. For Istanbul, this is already the second urban funicular from GARAVENTA, following the opening of the Taksim-Kabata installation in 2006.

The new funicular is fully integrated into the public transport network and is barrier-free and accessible to all. The installation runs completely underground. The sea-blue colored vehicles offer space for 200 passengers and carry up to 3,150 passengers per hour and direction.

“With the realization of this underground funicular to the Bosphorus, we have reached another important milestone in public transport”, Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu is pleased to say.

Access

to the funicular is designed to be completely barrier-free.

The station on the Bosphorus is located below sea level. In the immediate proximity, a ferry connection leads to the Asian side of the city. Marcel Nussbaumer, Sales Manager of GARAVENTA, was present at the opening and is excited about a successful project:

“The ‘füniküler’ makes life a lot easier for people. This project highlights how seamlessly a ropeway can be integrated into a city’s existing transport network.”

As an integral part of the multi-modal, urban mobility of the future, however, cable car systems offer numerous optimization opportunities for more attractive mobility concepts for public transport.

Zero-emission operation at the site, fast and cost-effective construction, and high transport capacity are just some of the advantages with which the cable car can score.

The engine room of the new funicular in Istanbul.

Tunnel funicular

The integration of the funicular into the public transport system requires a high level of availability. Therefore, the system is equipped with a redundant dual drive as well as an emergency drive, video surveillance systems, audio systems, an intercom system in the vehicles and automatic platform screen doors.

The power supply is ensured by a conductor rail along the entire line, which ensures the lighting, ventilation and air conditioning of the vehicles in the stations and on the track.