Marmaray, the 1st tunnel between Europe and Asia

The Marmaray project with the 1st underwater tunnel of the Bosphorus, in Istanbul, enters into service.

Turkish leaders have launched the first part of the Marmaray project with the 1st rail tunnel under the Bosphorus. The tunnel is 1,400 m, it is composed of a double tube for the circulation of trains, and can withstand earthquakes of magnitude 9 on the Richter scale. With a carrying capacity of 2 million people per day, it is part of a first line of 13 kms which will allow the metro to link in 4 minutes the two shores of the Turkish megapolis.

Called "the project of the century", it required nine years of work and an investment estimated 3 billion euros, the third of which has been funded by Japan. The inauguration took place on the day of the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic.

The rail tunnel will be doubled from 2015 by a road tunnel.

source : euronews,