DESCRIPTION
Istanbul first tram line opened in 1869 (initial horse tram); it was electrified in 1914. As well as in other towns, the original tram system was dismantled after the second world war (in 1961 tram closed in the european part of Istanbul, in 1966 tram closed in the asiatic one). Parts of the old tram routes have been reopened (operating as a heritage/touristic trams) both in the european side (1990: tram T2 running from the top station of the Tunel Funicular to Taksim Square) and in the asiatic side (2003: T3 circular line, Kadikoy-Damga Sokak-Kadikoy). T1 interchanges with metro M1 (at Bagcilar, Zeytinburnu, Yusufpasa) and metro M2 (at Vezneciler).
The first modern LRT/tram line (T1) opened in 1992, running from Sirkeci to Topkapi; it was extended in 1994 (Topkapi-Zeytinburnu), 1996 (Sirkeci-Eminonu), 2005 (Eminonu-Findikli) and 2006 (Findikli-Kabatas; Zeytinburnu-Bagcilar).
A second modern LRT/tram line (T4) opened in 2007 running from Sehitlik to Mescid-i Selam; it was extended in 2009 (Sehitlik-Topkapi). T4 and T1 interchange at Topkapi.