Istanbul's first tram line, which opened on February 20, 1914 on the Karak Y-Ortak Y line, celebrates its 110th anniversary this year and is still an integral part of public transport.
On August 30, 1869, the Ddersaadet Tram Company was founded, which began the development of the city's railway system. The initiative was granted permission and privileges by the Ottoman Sultan Abdulaziz due to the city's population approaching 1 million and the growing demand for public transport.
This day is also considered to be the day of the founding of the Istanbul Tram and Tunnel Enterprise (IETT), which was the first transport operator in the city.
In order to make the trams in the city more comfortable, the cobblestones on the Tophane-Be ikta line were removed. Tracks and paving stones were placed in place. After the trial operation, the tram began to run between Azatkap and Be Ikta, and the opening ceremony was held on July 31, 1871 at Tofarne Square.
Due to high public demand, a new line was opened between Emin Nü-sirkeci-Beyazit-Aksaray and Aksaray-Yedikule.
A total of 430 horses and 45 trams are served by public transport on the rapidly expanding line.
After the outbreak of the Balkan War in 1912, all the horses of the company that provided tram services were purchased by the state for military service. Later, with the establishment of a power plant in Silahtara A in 1913, the transition to trams began.
On February 11, 1914, the city's tram was electrified for the first time. On February 20, 1914, the Deputy Mayor of Istanbul, Bedri Bey, held an opening ceremony for the tram in the Karakoy district.
As a turning point for public transportation in Istanbul, the electric tram then crossed the Galata Bridge.
In the process, the USKÜDAR-K S KL, Ba Larba-Haydarpa A, USKÜDAR-Haydarpa A, Fenerbah E-Bostanc-Moda, Fatih-Edirnekap and Ba Larba-KaracaAhmet tram lines were built.
The rationale given at the time was that trams were not fast enough and would disrupt traffic, especially after 1930 when cities began using taxis, buses and minibuses as public transport. Thus, the tram made its last voyage on the European side on August 12, 1961 and on the Anatolian side on October 3, 1966.
The last two lines, the Usküdar-Kad K Y and Kad K-Hasanpa A services, were cancelled on 14 November 1966.
Subsequently, the three trams that were in operation before 1966 were updated and began carrying passengers on the line from Taksim to the tunnel on January 29, 1990, under the name "Nostalgic Tram".
T1 Kabata-Ba C Lar tram line, Aksaray-Beyaz T opened in 1992, Sirkeci-Beyaz T in 1992, Aksaray-Topkapi in 1992, Topkap-Zeytinburnu in 1994, Sirkeci-Emin Nü in 1996, Emin Nü-F ND KL in 2005, F ND KL-Kabata was opened in 2006 and Zeytinburnu-Ba Clar in 2006.
The T1 and T2 lines were also merged on 3 February 2011.
Today, in Istanbul, the Kabata-Bac Lar line, the T3 Kad K Y-Moda line, the T4 Topkap-Mescid-I Selam line, and the T5 Emin Nü-Alibeyk Y line serve Istanbulites.
In addition to the trams, there are 10 subway lines and 3 cable car lines (including the Karak Y-Beyo Lu Historical Tunnel Cable Car Line) that serve the city as a rail system.