Istanbul

Flexity Swift 707 on Divan Yolu at Cemberlitas Turkish Bath, near the Column of Constantine

Istanbul Tram is a modern light rail system which operates in the European half of the city of Istanbul in Turkey. The first section (Line T1) opened in 1992, followed by Line T2 which opened in 2006, the separate Line T4 opened in 2007 and uses high-floor vehicles. In 2011 Lines T1 and T2 merged retaining the Line T1 identity. At the time of my visit in 2012, Line T1 used a mixture of low-floor Bombardier Flexity Swift trams built in 2004 and more modern Alstom Citadis low-floor trams which began to be introduced in 2011. The old city of Istanbul, originally known as Byzantium and then Constantinople, is an ancient city with a fascinating history which provides some spectacular backdrops for photos of the modern tramway.

Bombardier Flexity Swift 704 on route T1 at the Aya Sophia

Citadis 808 on route T1 on Divan Yolu at the Mausoleum of Sultan Mahmut II

Bombardier Flexity Swift 720 on route T1 at Karakoy

Alstom Citadis 833 on route T1 at the Sultanahmet tram stop

Bombardier Flexity Swift 704 at Eminonu, next to the Golden Horn and Bosphorus ferry terminal

Flexity Swift 738 on route T1 at Eminonu, with Asia in the distance across the Bosphorus

Bombardier Flexity Swift 723 on route T1 at the Beyazit tram stop

Alstom Citadis 809 on Divan Yolu near the Tomb of Grand Vizier Koca Sinan Pasa

Bombardier Flexity Swift 733 on route T1 at Eminonu, next to the ferries on the Golden Horn

Bombardier Flexity Swift 722 on Divan Yolu (Road to the Imperial Council)

Alstom Citadis 804 and Bombardier Flexity Swift 730 at Eminonu

Bombardier Flexity Swifts 722 & 728 crossing the Galata Bridge over the Golden Horn

Alstom Citadis 831 crossing over the Golden Horn on the Galata Bridge on route T1

Bombardier Flexity Swift 707 passing the New Mosque at Eminonu