Marmaray calm on second day after first day’s storm of technical problems

ISTANBUL

AA Photo

The second day of the Marmaray cross-continental train service has passed without any reported problems, after an opening day beset by malfunctions.

Although the high demand from curious passengers continued for another day, no negativities were observed in the rail tunnel linking the European and Asian sides of the Bosphorus, Turkish State Railways (TCDD) head Süleyman Kahraman said.

In an interview with Anadolu Agency on Oct. 31, Kahraman said the problems of the first day had occurred due to passengers wanting to stay in trains longer than they needed to out of curiosity and a desire to learn more about the system.

On Oct. 30, on the first day in service, train services in the Marmaray tunnel halted twice due to technical issues, which cast a shadow over the flamboyant opening ceremony that took place in Oct. 29.

After stopping for around 10 minutes because of a power blackout in the system in the early morning, the journeys were briefly interrupted again at noon due to a technical malfunction in the doors.

“The train halts took place after some passengers who were getting on the train for the first time pushed the emergency button,” the TCDD had said on Oct. 30 in a statement.

Kahraman told Anadolu Agency that they had taken “all scenarios into consideration” while building the system, but said it was normal for vehicles to break down anywhere.

He also accused the press of exaggerating the incidents “as if there was a problem.”