Turkey has opened the world’s first underwater rail-link, connecting Asia and Europe. The engineering feat spans 13 kilometers and is around 60 meters below the Bosphorus Strait. Called the Marmaray, it will carry subway commuters in Europe’s biggest city and eventually serve high-speed and freight trains.
The opening of the rail-link yesterday coincided with the 90th anniversary of the founding of the modern Turkish Republic.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said that the nation is realising the 150-year old dream, uniting the two continents and their people. The 2.8 billion dollar tunnel project has been mainly financed by the Japan Bank for International Co-operation.
Experts say that the Marmaray will reduce car traffic by 20 per cent in Istanbul, which is, currently, among the world’s most congested cities.