M2 (Istanbul Metro)

M2 Yenikapı – Hacıosman
A northbound train at the Levent station
Overview
Type	Rapid transit
System	Istanbul Metro
Status	Operational
Locale	Istanbul, Turkey
Termini	Yenikapı Hacıosman
Stations	16
Services	1 (Branch to Seyrantepe)
Daily ridership	320,000
Operation
Opened	September 16, 2000; 16 years ago (2000-09-16)
Owner	Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality
Operator(s)	İstanbul Ulaşım A.Ş.
Depot(s)	Seyrantepe
Rolling stock	124 Hyundai Rotem
Technical
Line length	23.5 km (14.6 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) standard gauge
Electrification	750 V DC Third rail
Route number	M2, Shuttle
Route map Line M2 Dist. 19.3 km 12 mi Hacıosman 17.8 km 11.1 mi Darüşşafaka 16.7 km 10.4 mi Atatürk Oto Sanayi 15.3 km 9.5 mi İ.T.Ü.—Ayazağa 15.1 km 9.4 mi Seyrantepe 13.6 km 8.5 mi Sanayi 12.2 km 7.6 mi 4. Levent 11.2 km 7 mi Levent 9.9 km 6.2 mi Gayrettepe 8.2 km 5.1 mi Şişli—Mecidiyeköy 6.9 km 4.3 mi Osmanbey 5.2 km 3.2 mi Taksim 3.7 km 2.3 mi Şişhane Haliçover Golden Horn 2.3 km 1.4 mi Vezneciler 0 km Yenikapı This diagram:

M2, officially referred to as the M2 Yenikapı – Hacıosman line (Turkish: M2 Yenikapı - Hacıosman metro hattı), is a 23.5-kilometre (14.6 mi), 16-stationrapid transit line of the Istanbul Metro. It is colored light green on the maps and route signs. The M2 operates between Hacıosman in southern Sarıyer to Yenikapı in south-central Fatih on the historic peninsula of Istanbul. Shuttle trains run from Sanayi to Seyrantepe to Türk Telekom Arena. The M2 line has a total length of 23.5 km (14.6 mi) and has a daily ridership of 320,000 making it the busiest and second longest line of the Istanbul Metro system. Only the M1 line has a longer route length.

Construction for a north-south metro line started on 19 August 1992 when the groundbreaking of the M2 took place. The original route was a wholly underground 7 km (4.3 mi) line between Taksim and 4. Levent. Construction of the tunnels took place in three separate areas; Taksim, Şişli and 4. Levent. These tunnels were connected to each other on 8 July 1994 and were completed on 30 April 1995. The line was completed in early 11 January 1999 and the first rolling stock were lowered into the tunnels. On 25 March 1999 the first test runs began and the line entered service on 16 September 2000 between Taksim and Levent. 4. Levent was opened one month later on 24 October 2000.

The following are events in the timeline of the M2 service:

The M2 starts at Hacıosman in southwestern Sarıyer. From there it travels under Büyükdere Avenue, a major north-south road in the city, through İstanbul's two major financial districts; Maslak and Levent. The line then heads slightly west just south of Levent through Şişli to historical Taksim Square. From there M2 heads through western Beyoğlu to Şişhane. It crosses the Golden Horn towards the Old City and terminates in Yenikapı, a transport hub connecting with M1 line and Marmaray. (The Şehzadebaşı station on the map above was actually named Vezneciler when the extension south of Şişhane opened on Febr 15, 2014).