A sprawling expanse of concrete and steel. This is the Metro Istanbul Behic Erkin Yerleskesi. It’s more than just a depot. It’s the heart of Istanbul’s Asian side rail system.
Opened on November 23 2022 this impressive facility is named after Behic Erkin. He was the founder and first general manager of TCDD Turkey’s State Railways. He’s considered the father of railways in Turkey. His contributions to the development of rail transport were immense. The naming of this depot honors his legacy.
The Metro Istanbul Behic Erkin Yerleskesi covers a massive 1584 donums. That’s approximately 158 hectares. It houses 78 donums of indoor space. This includes extensive open and closed train parking areas. A heavy maintenance workshop is also present. There are control centers and administrative buildings. Importantly it boasts Turkey’s first two-story rail system parking area. This innovative design maximizes space efficiency. Ultimately the depot can accommodate around 68 trains a total of approximately 230 carriages.
Initially this site served as a tunnel boring machine entrance and segment depot for the M5 Uskudar Cekmekoy metro line in 2013. The depot and maintenance workshop were completed by 2018. However capacity was limited to just 11 trains or 66 carriages at that time. The facility remained largely unused. In 2019 Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality took over. They resumed construction and expansion.
The M8 and M5 lines began using the depot from 2020 and 2022 respectively. Today the Behic Erkin Yerleskesi is the command center for M5 M8 and M12 metro lines. The M5’s old control center in Carsisi station now serves as a backup. The facility’s central location and modern design make it efficient and effective. The control center for M10 and M13 lines is also planned for this site.
The depot’s strategic location enhances its importance. Three tunnels with four tracks connect the depot to the M5 and M8 lines. Trains on the M12 line can access the depot via a connecting tunnel between Sahrayicedit and Tunc Mehmet Efendi stations.
The Metro Istanbul Behic Erkin Yerleskesi is more than just a place to park and maintain trains. It is a symbol of progress a testament to vision and a tribute to a man who dedicated his life to improving Turkey’s infrastructure. It represents a crucial step forward in Istanbul’s expanding public transportation network. Its continued development reflects Istanbul’s commitment to modern and efficient transportation systems for future generations.