Celebrating its 34th anniversary, IBB Subsidiary Metro Istanbul introduced the locally produced rail system vehicle 'Tram100', a 100% Turkish engineering and design product, and opened the Metro Istanbul R&D Center to service on the 34th anniversary of the Republic. IMM President and Nation Alliance's Vice President candidate Ekrem İmamoğlu, in his speech at the introductory meeting and the opening ceremony, “We are starting the production of our own rail system vehicle, which has both light metro and tram functions. It is valuable that it is a real national technology product. We will manufacture Tram34”.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) introduced the 22th project of the “2022 Projects in 300 Days” marathon, which started on July 300, 300. Celebrating the 34th anniversary of IMM's establishment, Metro Istanbul, the subsidiary company, launched the locally produced rail system vehicle "Tram100", a product of 100 percent Turkish engineering and design, in the 34th anniversary of the Republic. At the ceremony held for the introductory meeting of Tram34 and the opening of the Metro Istanbul R&D Center, Metro Istanbul General Manager Özgür Soy, IMM Deputy Secretary General Pelin Alpkökin and IMM President and Nation Alliance Vice President candidate, respectively. Ekrem İmamoğlu made a speech.
“WE LOVE WORKING FOR THIS CITY”
Speaking at the ceremony held at Metro Istanbul's Headquarters Campus in Esenler, İmamoğlu briefly said:
“Today, the name of the 300th project is; very precious: Launch of Tram34, rail systems and opening of our R&D Center. You feel even more proud when you do work that symbolizes the development of our country. You get more excited when you describe a process that aims to employ the children, youth and women of this city, to work and to raise goals with them. Hopefully, we will move towards the 400th project as well. We have one more time ahead of us. I describe this period as a period of care. Because we love working for this city. I believe that in a very short time, I hope we will be honored to work hard for the country as well. As IMM, our priority is to make the lives of 16 million people easier and improve their quality of life. For this, the part that we attach great importance to, spend a lot of time on and spend the highest budget on is the rail systems of our Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. To put it clearly, the relief of Turkey's and Europe's largest city in transportation is only possible with the development of rail systems.”
“WE TAKE GREAT STEPS IN METRO PRODUCTION”
“Ms. Pelin just shared with you our vision for 740, which is 2030 kilometers away. This is a very precious journey. We have to achieve this. If we fail to achieve this, it is not possible for us to make Istanbul's quality of life truly sustainable. Today, we are enjoying the pleasure of adding a new success to this process where we have achieved good success. In June 2019, we said, 'We are on our way to make the subways the backbone of transportation in Istanbul and to bring more subways to our city at a lower cost and in a shorter time'. We have made great strides in this direction. We came together at metro and tram openings and construction processes and we will continue to come. Today, I would like to express that we are witnessing a moment that will make 85 million proud at the point where our vision in this field has reached. We have completed all the design and registration processes of our tram vehicle Tram34. With the signature signed today, I hope Metro A.Ş. takes an important step and officially starts production.”
“OUR VISION HAS THREE LEGS…”
“Our vision has three pillars. First; What Istanbul needs is to finish the metro investments, which have been neglected for years, as soon as possible. Latter; To provide comfortable and punctual transportation with the quality of the metro operation. This is really important. Because people like the subway more as they use it and enjoy it. The third is; to lead the development of domestic production and domestic technology by turning this environment into an opportunity in this field. If we are currently producing the world's highest level of subway production and, so to speak, we are replacing it with gold, subway, iron nets, and we have a responsibility to prepare other products, vehicles, and other elements of this need. Hopefully, we will lead the development of domestic production and domestic technology in this field, and we have set our target.”
“IF THEY COMPARE FOUR YEARS WITH 25 YEARS, IT MEANS WE DID A GREAT JOB”
“If they compare what we've done in four years with 25 years, it means we've accomplished great things. Our General Manager shared with us the meaning of this, the visionary work and results of my friends in order to make Metro Istanbul a world brand in such a short time, and the documents they received. Metro Istanbul has become a world-renowned İBB brand. I sincerely believe that he will climb even higher. This is a great pride for us. Of course we are here to be even more proud. Because we are starting the production of our own rail system vehicle, which has both light metro and tram functions. It is valuable that it is a real national technology product. We will manufacture Tram34. Because the owner of Tram34 is İBB. With its registration, everything, its R&D Center, all its patents and the efforts of our dear companions, this has been possible.”
“Just as we are dealing with everything, we were also kept waiting for that issue”
“Our difference here is that we bring a patented product to the public. This is precious. In other words, we are sharing with you a product that 16 million Istanbul has the right to. I would like to express that this is exactly what the national technology is. During my visit here in July 2021, my colleagues gave me a tour of the R&D Center and our General Manager, Deputy General Manager and all other friends showed me how they look at it with enthusiasm. Unfortunately, this R&D Center, which was at the stage of establishment that day, could not get its registration from the ministry. As we deal with every issue, we have been kept waiting a little bit on that issue as well. But when I was told about the Tram34 project, when I saw that excitement in my friends, I was also excited and shared with them that they should start right away and be brave about it. Today, it is very important for both Metro Istanbul and our Rail Systems Department to embrace a project that was still in the idea stage, and to bring it to life by completing all the stages. In other words, the design was created, the patent was obtained, the system matured, the customer was prepared for the job and the product was prepared. Production will now begin. The fact that they have accomplished this in such a short period of time certainly deserves applause. I thank them all.”
BEYLIKDÜZÜ METRO REACTION: “THE ISSUES OF PREVENTION OVER 2 YEARS THROUGH EGO, Arrogance, POLITICAL CONCEPTS; It's a shame"
“Difficulties, obstructions, removals etc... It's an effort I've been doing meticulously for 2 years regarding the Beylikdüzü metro... The story of the metro in Beylikdüzü goes back to 2002 for me. That's not the story, it's true. As a businessman and a person living in that region, which I have witnessed with my own eyes, the election promise of the 2004 local elections is the Beylikdüzü Metro. In 2003, I witnessed the transfer and signature of that project, where the stations are planned to be built, from another state institution to IMM. I was the sports manager of a club. Again, when I was going to a place with a high-level official, I saw the Beylikdüzü file with me, I asked. Allah always compares me to things that I will need in the future by such coincidence. That's why I believe in my own luck. The work he signed in front of my eyes in 2003. The year has come, 2023. 20 years. These are the constraints, we need to talk about them. 20 years. On that day, there were 1-1,5 million in Beylikdüzü and its environs; Now we are talking about an issue that concerns a population of close to 3 million. And it's a shame, the issues of being blocked over ego, arrogance, political concepts for 2 years… It's a shame. It's not a party. People are hurting.”
METRO İSTANBUL GENERAL MANAGER SOY: “WE PROVIDE SERVICE WITH 18 KILOMETERS ON 214 LINES, IN 214 STATIONS”
Saying, 'We say 10 metros at the same time,' but actually we started with 12 construction sites, Metro Istanbul General Manager Soy said, “We completed 4 of them under the leadership of our President. We are working hard for 8 of them. I started my job in February 2021. When I started, we were serving on 13 lines, at 158 stations, with 154 kilometers. We could carry a maximum of 2,2-2,3 three million passengers a day. Today; We provide service on 18 lines, 214 stations, and 214 kilometers. In October 2022, we carried 2 million 869 thousand passengers. Hopefully, we will renew this record with 3 million in the very near future and we will celebrate 3 million passengers together. At a time when the number of passengers in the world's metros decreased, we became the metro with the highest increase in passenger numbers in Europe. Metro Istanbul is a very large and very powerful organization. Metro Istanbul carries one out of every two passengers traveling by rail systems in Turkey. And Metro Istanbul is bigger than all other city rail systems combined. Under the leadership of our President, we will pass Paris in the very near future and become Europe's third largest subway.
“WE GOT OUR OFFICIAL REGISTRATION CERTIFICATE FROM THE MINISTRY OF INDUSTRY BUT A FEW MONTHS AGO”
Saying, “We have gathered here today to make the official opening of our R&D Center, which was brought into being by these studies,” Soy said, “The work of our R&D Center started about 3,5 years ago. But we were only able to get our official registration certificate from the Ministry of Industry a few months ago. This facility is a center established to develop new technology. But it is a product and technology development platform open not only to Metro Istanbul but also to all domestic manufacturers. We say, 'Come here, let's develop domestic technologies together.' Some of our suppliers are here with us right now. Let's work together to develop domestic technologies and increase domestic production. Young engineers should also be able to realize their dreams here.”
“TRAM34; AT 24 METERS LONG, 2,65 METERS WIDTH, IT CAN SERVE 216 PASSENGER"
Sharing information about Tram34, Soy said, “In the centennial of our Republic, the necessary design and engineering studies for the production of 34 rail system vehicles have been completed. Approval processes passed. We came together today to sign the production contract. We have been fortunate to implement the first rail system project within the scope of the 'Industry Cooperation Programme', which has been in effect since 2011 and has found application especially in the defense industry, in order to develop new technologies and support domestic production in Turkey. And again, we are happy that we will produce the vehicle you see here and bring it to Istanbul. Now I would like to introduce you to Tram34. Our vehicle is 24 meters long and 2,65 meters wide. It can serve 216 passengers at the same time. The new face of Istanbul, designed as a light metro vehicle. It can reach 40 kilometers at operating speed and up to 80 kilometers at maximum speed. With this feature, it is suitable for use on both tram lines and light metro lines. It can climb 6 percent ramp slopes. With this ability, it stands out among its peers. The intellectual and industrial property rights of our new generation Istanbul vehicle, Tram34, belong entirely to Metro Istanbul, and it was designed in Turkey by 100 percent Turkish engineers and technicians for mass production. Yes. It is very important that intellectual and industrial rights belong to a public. I underline it. Tram34 will be used on the T4 Topkapı-Mescidi Selam Tram Line in the first place.
FIRST SIGNED, THEN R&D CENTER OPENED
After the speeches; IMM Deputy Secretary General Pelin Alpkökin and Rail Systems Department Head Ceyhun Avşar, Metro Istanbul Deputy General Manager Fatih Gültekin and Metro Istanbul General Manager Özgür Soy signed the signatures that started the production process of Tram34 under the witness of İmamoğlu. After the signing ceremony, İmamoğlu and the accompanying delegation opened the Metro Istanbul R&D Center.