After a wait of nearly five years for the completion of the Izmir-Karsiyaka Metro line, the train is now running. I took it all the way from one end to the other, all the way to the airport. I have to say, from one who tends to be overly critical sometimes, I was secretly gushing with excitement. At present, the line is still not completely finished, stopping in Cigli and according to the gossip I overhead, it is supposed to be finished within the next couple of months.
It'll be nice to have an alternative to the buses in summer- when you are lucky to find a seat and air conditioning on the same bus.Of course, I am glad the ferry boats will continue running all night.
LiveJournal Tags: Izmir Turkey,Train
Looks really good. Don't you wish we had trains all over Turkey?
ReplyDeleteI do. I noticed how much more convivial people seemed to be while riding on the train, rather than on buses. Perhaps it was merely the novelty of having something brand new.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I noticed when traveling by train from city to city is how many children were throwing rock at the train as we sped by! Even some of the windows on this new one had a crystallized look about them and I wasn't sure if they were supposed to look like that or they were the kind of glass that doesn't shatter when broken. What a shame it is true. I need to ask one of the security guards next time I am around there.
The old Istanbul train has the kids throwing rocks/bottles/etc. problem. It isn't just the fear of a deadly draft that keeps the windows closed in summer...
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