İzmir Alsancak Terminal
Encyclopedia
The Alsancak Terminal or Alsancak Railway Station in İzmir
is the second-oldest train station in Turkey
, after the Kemer Railway Station
(also in İzmir), being completed in 1858. The station houses the headquarters of TCDD District 3
and is the largest station in Turkey by size. Alsancak station is one of the busiest stations in Turkey. The station was electrified in 2001, with 25 kV AC
overhead wire. intercity trains to Ankara
, Bandırma
, Afyon and Uşak
as well as commuter trains to Menderes, Çiğli
and Aliağa
service the station.
was a primary trade city during the 19th century and still is today. The main industry of the area was agriculture. However it took caravans days to transport the goods from the fields to the port. So, the Ottoman Empire
gave a concession to a British company to build a railway from Aydın
to İzmir, on September 22, 1856. The Oriental Railway Company
(ORC) was formed on that day.
, near the docks. The original station consisted of a small building with a few tracks and a small depot. The station opened on October 30, 1858, when the railway reached Gaziemir
and Seydiköy. Passenger traffic was low and the few freight trains that operated, unloaded at Kemer
. The railway reached Aydın in 1866 and the ORC opened the whole line on July 1, 1866. When this line opened, freight traffic was too heavy for Kemer to handle and the ORC needed a larger depot. More tracks were added, maintenance depots, train sheds and freight depots were built as well as the Alsancak dock being considerably extended. Also allot of rich foreign and Ottoman business leviathans lived in İzmir, mainly in Bornova, Şirinyer and Buca. The railway could help them commute to work in Alsancak and back to their homes. Passenger traffic increased once the Şirinyer-Buca branch was opened, in 1870 and a new station was needed to built for these rich families. In 1871 a new, bigger station with a clock tower was opened. This clock tower became the first in İzmir. Today, this building is the headquarters of District 3
.
In 1890s, a tram line was opened from the dock in Pasaport to Alsancak station, traveling up the Kordon waterfront. This line was connected to the tracks at the station and passengers would board horse-pulled trams from Pasaport to Alsancak station to board intercity trains in the day. At night freight trains would transport freight to Pasaport pier, to reduce the congestion in the port of Alsancak. With the opening of this tram line traffic increased even more and the existing freight depots were moved to the Alsancak docks.
The railway also changed the economy of İzmir completely. In the early 1900s, gas lamps were added to the city streets to replace the ones that operated with coal. With this, a power plant was added next to the station and tracks were extended through the station to the docks. The Ottoman Empire sided with Austria-Hungary
and the German Empire
. During the war the Oriental Railway Company was taken from the English and operated by the Ottoman government. The Ottoman Empire eventually lost the war in 1920 and the Allies started to occupy Anatolia
. The railway still operated but traffic decreased greatly. The station was miraculously unharmed during the Great Fire of Smyrna
in 1922. Control of the line was handed back to the ORC on November 6, 1922, when the Ottoman Empire officially collapsed.
(1927) agreed to buy the ORC for £1,825,840. On June 1, 1935, the State Railways absorbed the ORC.
Traffic greatly increased in 1938, when the State Railways started daily service to Ankara
. With this increase, a train shed was built over the platforms and the present day station was built. In the early 1950s, the tracks leading to the port were taken up and a new spur was built near Halkapınar. Alsancak became a "gateway to the south" in the 1970s, as trains departing from Alsancak all headed south of İzmir. Between 2000-2001 the State Railways built several more platforms and electrified the tracks, to bring commuter rail to İzmir. The overhead wires were never used and on July 23, 2006, the station was closed to passenger service for the renovation of the surrounding lines. Between late 2006 and early 2010, Alsancak station was at an all time low. No trains served the station until the construction of Karşıyaka tunnel was completed. On May 25, 2010, long distance passenger service returned. Alsancak was also chosen to be the headquarters and main hub of İzmir's new commuter rail system: İZBAN
. İZBAN started operation from Alsancak to Cumaovası on August 30, 2010, Alsancak-Çiğli on December 5, 2010 and Alsancak-Aliağa on January 31, 2011.
and Sıla Gençoğlu
performed on the platforms.
Izmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
is the second-oldest train station in Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, after the Kemer Railway Station
Kemer Railway Station
The Kemer Railway Station is a railway station in İzmir. The station is the oldest railway station in Turkey, built in 1857. The station closed to passenger service in 2006 and is currently under renovation. The station is expected to re-open in September, 2010.-History:In 1856 the Ottoman Empire...
(also in İzmir), being completed in 1858. The station houses the headquarters of TCDD District 3
TCDD District 3
District 3 of the Turkish State Railways is one of TCDD's 7 districts. The district was formed in 1950, when TCDD split into its original 5 districts. District 3 has three main lines, all starting in İzmir. The İzmir-Bandırma Line, the İzmir-Uşak Line and the İzmir-Denizli Line. There are many...
and is the largest station in Turkey by size. Alsancak station is one of the busiest stations in Turkey. The station was electrified in 2001, with 25 kV AC
25 kV AC
The 25 kV Alternating current railway electrification system is commonly used in railways worldwide, especially for high-speed rail.-Overview:This electrification system is ideal for railways that cover long distances and/or carry heavy traffic...
overhead wire. intercity trains to Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, Bandırma
Bandirma
Bandırma is a city in northwestern Turkey with 113,385 inhabitants on the Sea of Marmara. Also, Bandırma is a district of Balıkesir....
, Afyon and Uşak
Usak
Uşak is a city in the interior part of the Aegean Region of Turkey. The city has a population of 180,414 and is the capital of Uşak Province. The mayor is Ali Erdoğan ....
as well as commuter trains to Menderes, Çiğli
Çigli
Çiğli is a metropolitan district of the city of İzmir in İzmir Province, Turkey. Its area covers the northern end of the boundaries of İzmir Metropolitan Municipality. Çiğli district area neighbors that of Karşıyaka, another metropolitan district, to the south and the west, and that of İzmir's...
and Aliağa
Aliaga
Aliaga can refer to:* Aliaga, Aragon, Spain* Aliağa, Turkey* the Filipino municipality of Aliaga, Nueva Ecija on Luzon* a family name, as in the case of the Peruvian writer Felipe Pardo y Aliaga...
service the station.
History
İzmirIzmir
Izmir is a large metropolis in the western extremity of Anatolia. The metropolitan area in the entire Izmir Province had a population of 3.35 million as of 2010, making the city third most populous in Turkey...
was a primary trade city during the 19th century and still is today. The main industry of the area was agriculture. However it took caravans days to transport the goods from the fields to the port. So, the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
gave a concession to a British company to build a railway from Aydın
Aydin
Aydın is a city in and the seat of Aydın Province in Turkey's Aegean Region. The city is located at the heart of the lower valley of Büyük Menderes River at a commanding position for the region extending from the uplands of the valley down to the seacoast...
to İzmir, on September 22, 1856. The Oriental Railway Company
Oriental Railway Company
The Oriental Railway Company or the İzmir-Aydın Railway was the first railway in Anatolia. The railway operated from 1856 to 1935 when TCDD absorbed it.-History:...
(ORC) was formed on that day.
Ottoman Era 1856-1920
The Oriental Railway Company chose to start their line in the neighborhood of AlsancakAlsancak
Alsancak is a centrally situated large quarter in İzmir, Turkey, within the boundaries of the metropolitan district of Konak, the historic center of the city....
, near the docks. The original station consisted of a small building with a few tracks and a small depot. The station opened on October 30, 1858, when the railway reached Gaziemir
Gaziemir
Gaziemir is a district of İzmir Province in the Aegean region of Turkey. It is one of the metropolitan districts of Greater İzmir and is situated to the south of central İzmir on the road to İzmir...
and Seydiköy. Passenger traffic was low and the few freight trains that operated, unloaded at Kemer
Kemer Railway Station
The Kemer Railway Station is a railway station in İzmir. The station is the oldest railway station in Turkey, built in 1857. The station closed to passenger service in 2006 and is currently under renovation. The station is expected to re-open in September, 2010.-History:In 1856 the Ottoman Empire...
. The railway reached Aydın in 1866 and the ORC opened the whole line on July 1, 1866. When this line opened, freight traffic was too heavy for Kemer to handle and the ORC needed a larger depot. More tracks were added, maintenance depots, train sheds and freight depots were built as well as the Alsancak dock being considerably extended. Also allot of rich foreign and Ottoman business leviathans lived in İzmir, mainly in Bornova, Şirinyer and Buca. The railway could help them commute to work in Alsancak and back to their homes. Passenger traffic increased once the Şirinyer-Buca branch was opened, in 1870 and a new station was needed to built for these rich families. In 1871 a new, bigger station with a clock tower was opened. This clock tower became the first in İzmir. Today, this building is the headquarters of District 3
TCDD District 3
District 3 of the Turkish State Railways is one of TCDD's 7 districts. The district was formed in 1950, when TCDD split into its original 5 districts. District 3 has three main lines, all starting in İzmir. The İzmir-Bandırma Line, the İzmir-Uşak Line and the İzmir-Denizli Line. There are many...
.
In 1890s, a tram line was opened from the dock in Pasaport to Alsancak station, traveling up the Kordon waterfront. This line was connected to the tracks at the station and passengers would board horse-pulled trams from Pasaport to Alsancak station to board intercity trains in the day. At night freight trains would transport freight to Pasaport pier, to reduce the congestion in the port of Alsancak. With the opening of this tram line traffic increased even more and the existing freight depots were moved to the Alsancak docks.
The railway also changed the economy of İzmir completely. In the early 1900s, gas lamps were added to the city streets to replace the ones that operated with coal. With this, a power plant was added next to the station and tracks were extended through the station to the docks. The Ottoman Empire sided with Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary
Austria-Hungary , more formally known as the Kingdoms and Lands Represented in the Imperial Council and the Lands of the Holy Hungarian Crown of Saint Stephen, was a constitutional monarchic union between the crowns of the Austrian Empire and the Kingdom of Hungary in...
and the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. During the war the Oriental Railway Company was taken from the English and operated by the Ottoman government. The Ottoman Empire eventually lost the war in 1920 and the Allies started to occupy Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
. The railway still operated but traffic decreased greatly. The station was miraculously unharmed during the Great Fire of Smyrna
Great Fire of Smyrna
The Great Fire of Smyrna or the Catastrophe of Smyrna was a fire that destroyed much of the port city of Izmir in September 1922. Eye-witness reports state that the fire began on 13 September 1922 and lasted until it was largely extinguished on September 22...
in 1922. Control of the line was handed back to the ORC on November 6, 1922, when the Ottoman Empire officially collapsed.
Turkish Republic Era 1923-Present
The Allied forces eventually left Anatolia after the Turkish Independence War and the Turkish Republic formed. The Oriental Railway Company continued to operate under its concession by the Ottoman Empire. Traffic increased steadily and a new locomotive shed was built in 1923. In 1927 a railway museum opened in the station. Once the concession ended in 1935, the Turkish State RailwaysTurkish State Railways
The State Railways of the Turkish Republic or TCDD is the government owned, national railway carrier in the Republic of Turkey, headquartered in Ankara...
(1927) agreed to buy the ORC for £1,825,840. On June 1, 1935, the State Railways absorbed the ORC.
Traffic greatly increased in 1938, when the State Railways started daily service to Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
. With this increase, a train shed was built over the platforms and the present day station was built. In the early 1950s, the tracks leading to the port were taken up and a new spur was built near Halkapınar. Alsancak became a "gateway to the south" in the 1970s, as trains departing from Alsancak all headed south of İzmir. Between 2000-2001 the State Railways built several more platforms and electrified the tracks, to bring commuter rail to İzmir. The overhead wires were never used and on July 23, 2006, the station was closed to passenger service for the renovation of the surrounding lines. Between late 2006 and early 2010, Alsancak station was at an all time low. No trains served the station until the construction of Karşıyaka tunnel was completed. On May 25, 2010, long distance passenger service returned. Alsancak was also chosen to be the headquarters and main hub of İzmir's new commuter rail system: İZBAN
İZBAN
İZBAN, sometimes referred to as Egeray, is a commuter rail system serving İzmir and its metropolitan area. It is the busiest commuter railway in Turkey, serving about 150,000 passengers daily. İZBAN is a portmanteau of the words "İzmir" and "Banliyö". Established in 2006 and began operations in...
. İZBAN started operation from Alsancak to Cumaovası on August 30, 2010, Alsancak-Çiğli on December 5, 2010 and Alsancak-Aliağa on January 31, 2011.
Layout
Alsancak station has a unique layout, compared to other stations in Turkey. Tracks 1 and 4 are used for intercity and regional trains (track 1 for departures, track 4 for arrivals). Tracks 2 and 3 are used as a siding. Tracks 7-9 are used for commuter rail to Cumaovası, Çiğli and Aliağa. Tracks 5, 6 and 10 are currently used as a siding for trains. Alsancak has a main staffed station building,built in 1938, with a ticket and information booth. The 1871 clock tower station is now the headquarters for District 3. The depots behind the clock tower station are used for storing switchers and railcars. The headquarters of İZBAN are in a new building, built in 2002, next to the commuter rail platforms.Service
| Previous | |Turkish State Railways Turkish State Railways The State Railways of the Turkish Republic or TCDD is the government owned, national railway carrier in the Republic of Turkey, headquartered in Ankara... | | Next |
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İzmir Blue Train The İzmir Blue Train is one of the 3, still operating, "Blue Train" services. The train operates between Alsancak Terminal in İzmir and Central Station in Ankara.... |
Halkapınar Railway Station Halkapınar railway station is a major transfer hub in İzmir, Turkey. Halkapınar is currently the only station in Turkey where a direct transfer between the railway and a city's metro system exists. The station is served by the Turkish State Railways to Bandırma, Ankara and Uşak as well as İZBAN to... Toward Ankara |
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Karesi Express The Karesi Express is an over night train, operating between Alsancak Terminal, İzmir and Central Station, Ankara. The train is one of two current train services between İzmir and Ankara. The eastbound journey takes about 14 hours and 16 minutes, while the westbound journey takes about 14 hours and... |
Halkapınar Railway Station Halkapınar railway station is a major transfer hub in İzmir, Turkey. Halkapınar is currently the only station in Turkey where a direct transfer between the railway and a city's metro system exists. The station is served by the Turkish State Railways to Bandırma, Ankara and Uşak as well as İZBAN to... Toward Ankara |
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Halkapınar Railway Station Halkapınar railway station is a major transfer hub in İzmir, Turkey. Halkapınar is currently the only station in Turkey where a direct transfer between the railway and a city's metro system exists. The station is served by the Turkish State Railways to Bandırma, Ankara and Uşak as well as İZBAN to... Toward Bandırma Bandırma Railway Station The Bandırma Railway Station is located right next to the Bandırma İDO ferry terminal, in the center of Bandırma. The station is a transfer point for passenger traveling between İzmir and İstanbul via train and ferry. The 6th of September Express and the 17th of September Express are the only... |
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Halkapınar Railway Station Halkapınar railway station is a major transfer hub in İzmir, Turkey. Halkapınar is currently the only station in Turkey where a direct transfer between the railway and a city's metro system exists. The station is served by the Turkish State Railways to Bandırma, Ankara and Uşak as well as İZBAN to... Toward Bandırma Bandırma Railway Station The Bandırma Railway Station is located right next to the Bandırma İDO ferry terminal, in the center of Bandırma. The station is a transfer point for passenger traveling between İzmir and İstanbul via train and ferry. The 6th of September Express and the 17th of September Express are the only... |
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Halkapınar Railway Station Halkapınar railway station is a major transfer hub in İzmir, Turkey. Halkapınar is currently the only station in Turkey where a direct transfer between the railway and a city's metro system exists. The station is served by the Turkish State Railways to Bandırma, Ankara and Uşak as well as İZBAN to... Toward Afyon Afyon Ali Çetinkaya Station Afyon Ali Çetinkaya railway station is the main railway station in Afyonkarahisar, Turkey. The station is one of Afyon's two railway stations, the other being Afyon City railway station. Ali Çetinkaya station was built in 1895 by the Anatolian Railway as part of their main line between İstanbul and... |
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Halkapınar Railway Station Halkapınar railway station is a major transfer hub in İzmir, Turkey. Halkapınar is currently the only station in Turkey where a direct transfer between the railway and a city's metro system exists. The station is served by the Turkish State Railways to Bandırma, Ankara and Uşak as well as İZBAN to... Toward Uşak Uşak Railway Station The Uşak Railway Station is a railway station in Uşak, Turkey. The station is service by 1 train a day: the Alsancak-Uşak Regional going to İzmir.-Service:... |
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| Previous | |İZBAN İZBAN İZBAN, sometimes referred to as Egeray, is a commuter rail system serving İzmir and its metropolitan area. It is the busiest commuter railway in Turkey, serving about 150,000 passengers daily. İZBAN is a portmanteau of the words "İzmir" and "Banliyö". Established in 2006 and began operations in... | | Next |
Southern Line (İZBAN) The Southern Line is an electrified commuter rail line operated by İZBAN, using track owned by the Turkish State Railways. The line runs from Alsancak Terminal, through the southern suburbs of western Buca and central Gaziemir as well as servicing Adnan Menderes Airport via the newly rebuilt... |
Toward Menderes Cumaovası Railway Station The Cumaovası Railway Station is a railway station in Turkey. The station is from the town of Menderes. The Turkish State Railways serve the station with regional trains to Basmane Terminal in İzmir and Ödemiş, Tire, Aydın, Nazilli and Söke in the south. The station will also be the southern... |
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Northern Line (İZBAN) The Northern Line is a commuter rail service operated by İZBAN on tracks owned by the Turkish State Railways, operating between Alsancak Terminal in İzmir to Aliağa railway station in the northern port town of Aliağa... |
Halkapınar Railway Station Halkapınar railway station is a major transfer hub in İzmir, Turkey. Halkapınar is currently the only station in Turkey where a direct transfer between the railway and a city's metro system exists. The station is served by the Turkish State Railways to Bandırma, Ankara and Uşak as well as İZBAN to... Toward Aliağa |
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| Previous | |Oriental Railway Company Oriental Railway Company The Oriental Railway Company or the İzmir-Aydın Railway was the first railway in Anatolia. The railway operated from 1856 to 1935 when TCDD absorbed it.-History:... | | Next |
Hilal railway station Hilal railway station formerly Istravoz railway station was a train station located in İzmir, Turkey. It was located east of Basmane next to the famous Hilal Junction. The station is famous for being located next to the only level crossing in Turkey. The Oriental Railway Company's Alsancak-Aydın... Toward Eğirdir Eğirdir Railway Station The Eğirdir Railway Station, was the terminal station of the Oriental Railway Company main line from Izmir.The station was never meant to be a terminal station because the ORC intended to extend the line to Konya.... |
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Hilal railway station Hilal railway station formerly Istravoz railway station was a train station located in İzmir, Turkey. It was located east of Basmane next to the famous Hilal Junction. The station is famous for being located next to the only level crossing in Turkey. The Oriental Railway Company's Alsancak-Aydın... Toward Buca Buca Railway Station The Buca Railway Station was a train station in the Buca district of İzmir. The station was serviced by the Turkish State Railways from 1935 to 2006 and formerly the Oriental Railway Company from 1870 to 1935. The station was the southern terminus of the former Alsancak-Buca Commuter Line, one of... |
Media
Alsancak has always been a landmark of İzmir. Many films and television shows were filmed in the station. During the 4 years that it was closed to passenger service, Nil KaraibrahimgilNil Karaibrahimgil
Nil Karaibrahimgil , also popularly known simply as Nil , is a well known Turkish singer and songwriter mostly noted for her distinct lyrics...
and Sıla Gençoğlu
Sila Gençoglu
Sıla Gençoğlu is a Turkish musician. She usually goes by her first name, 'Sıla'.Sıla was born in Denizli. She worked before as a producer, lyricist and background singer for many Turkish artists, such as Kenan Doğulu and Emel Müftüoğlu. In 2007, she released her debut album Sıla...
performed on the platforms.