Halkalı railway station
Halkalı station (Turkish: Halkalı garı) is the westernmost station on the Marmaray line as well as in Istanbul. The station also services regional trains to Edirne, Uzunköprü, Çerkezköy and international trains to Bucharest, Belgrade and Sofia. The distance of the Halkalı station to the Istanbul Sirkeci Terminal is 27.63 km (17.17 mi).
Halkalı | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| TCDD Taşımacılık intercity and commuter rail station | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
 Looking at the station lobby from the Marmaray platform. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location | İstasyon Cd., İstasyon Mah., 34303 Küçükçekmece/Istanbul Turkey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Coordinates | 41°01′08″N 28°46′00″E | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Owned by | Turkish State Railways | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Operated by | TCDD Taşımacılık | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Line(s) | Istanbul–Pythio railway | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Platforms | 2 island platforms | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tracks | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus stands | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bus operators | İETT | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Construction | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Structure type | At-Grade | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parking | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Disabled access | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| History | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Opened | 22 July 1872 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Closed | 2013-16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rebuilt | 1955, 2013-16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Electrified | 1955 25 kV AC, 50 Hz OL | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Services | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Overview
The Halkalı logistics center and the historic Halkalı electric train maintenance depot is located near the station. The station is located next to Lake Küçükçekmece and services the population in north-central Küçükçekmece. Just a little north of the station will be a depot for commuter trains once the Marmaray project is complete.
The terminal has been the departure terminal for all freight trains to Europe and became a very important container terminal. It has been used by rail container lines IFB, Express Interfracht, Europe Intermodal and Metrans. It was closed to railway traffic in June 2013 due to construction works between Çerkezköy and Halkalı.[1] Construction work officially began in March 2014 and was said to last for 75 days.[2] However, construction works extended which already postponed opening to 2015. There's also a project under discussion to extend Marmaray to Ispartakule, which may cause further construction works and closures in the future.[3][4]
As Halkalı is now surrounded by residential areas due to the growth of the city, the role of being the main export customs for trucks to Europe is about to end. Trucks will use the new customs office in Catalca soon. Thus, Halkalı will have a large space for further projects. Halkalı is expected to be the main high speed train station on the European side of Istanbul after the railway connection via the new Bosphorus bridge is completed.
In June 2013, DB Schenker Rail announced a new freight route, with three trains per week between Germany and the Halkalı logistics center.[5] However, since Halkali had not opened as planned, trials had been done using Çerkezköy Terminal, and did not continue.[6]
References
- Uysal, Onur. "Holiday Time for Halkali", Rail Turkey, 19 April 2013
- Uysal, Onur. "Halkali Opening Not Before Summer", Rail Turkey, 12 March 2014
- Uysal, Onur. "Halkali Opening may be Postponed", Rail Turkey, 25 September 2014
- Uysal, Onur. "What Will Happen in Turkish Railways in 2015?", Rail Turkey, 1 January 2015
- "DB Schenker introduces freight shuttle to Turkey". Railway Gazette International. Retrieved 10 June 2013.
- Uysal, Onur. "Great Openings, Deep Disappointments in Railway", Rail Turkey, 2 October 2013