General Directorate of Istanbul Electric Tramway and Tunnel Operations (İETT)

İstanbul Electric Tramway and Tunnel Operations (İETT) is a public institution providing public transportation services under the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Established in 1871, İETT currently operates various public transportation systems across Istanbul, including buses, Metrobüs, nostalgic tramways, and the Tünel.

History

İETT’s history began with the founding of the Dersaadet Tramway Company in 1869. In 1871, the first horse-drawn tramways began service in Istanbul. In 1875, the Tünel, the world’s second oldest metro system after London, was opened to the public. In 1914, the operation shifted to electric tramways, a service managed for a time by various private companies. In 1939, under Law No. 3645, İETT was nationalized and transferred to the public sector under the name General Directorate of Istanbul Electric Tramway and Tunnel Operations.

Bus services were introduced in 1930 and trolleybus services in 1961. In 1945, gas production plants and distribution networks were transferred to İETT; this service was discontinued in 1993. In 1982, electricity distribution in Istanbul was transferred to the Turkish Electricity Authority (TEK). In 1980, the Blue Card system was implemented, and in 1985, the management and supervision of private public buses were entrusted to İETT.

In 1991, the nostalgic tramway service began operating on the Taksim–Tünel line. In 1993, double-decker buses were introduced, and in 1994, mobile advertising on buses was launched for the first time in Turkey. In 1995, the electronic ticketing system AKBİL was adopted.

Environmentally friendly buses were introduced in 1998, and the Moda Tramway began operations in 2003. In 2004, insurance coverage for bus passengers was implemented, and express buses entered service in 2005. In 2006, environmentally friendly low-floor buses compliant with European standards were introduced, followed in 2007 by new red double-decker buses.

The single-ticket system launched in 2006 integrated public transportation services. In 2007, the Metrobüs line was opened. In 2008, paper tickets were phased out and replaced by the “Beş Bir Yerde” system. In the same year, the former tram depot in Bağlarbaşı was converted into a cultural center, and the Metrobüs line was extended to Söğütlüçeşme in 2009. That same year, the Edirnekapı–Topkapı rail system was put into service by İETT.

In 2009, the mobile İETT application was developed, enabling route and schedule information to be accessed via mobile phones. In 2010, the 135th anniversary of the Tünel was celebrated, and as part of the Safe Journey Project, İETT drivers received training at universities. Quality management initiatives were launched in 2011. In 2013, 1705 new buses were added to the İETT fleet. In 2014, 965 new drivers began service, and the İETT Academy was established to provide driver training. In 2015, the AKBİL system was fully replaced by the İstanbulkart system.

In 2016, İETT received an award from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) in the “Customer Value Creation” category. The same year, it was honored with a bronze award by the Stevie International Business Awards in the human resources category.

İETT’s football team won the World Corporate Cup Games held in England in 2017, securing its fourth championship title. In 2018, 375 buses produced entirely in Türkiye were added to the fleet. In 2019, female security officers began service on the Metrobüs line, and in 2020, female drivers were deployed. In the same year, horse-drawn carriage transport in the Princes’ Islands was discontinued and replaced by electric vehicles. All public buses in Istanbul were consolidated under İETT.

In 2021, the 150th anniversary of İETT was celebrated, and 160 new vehicles were acquired for the Metrobüs line. The same year, İETT was awarded “Transport Company of the Year” by the UK-based Prestige Awards. In 2022, İETT hosted the 112th UITP Bus Committee Meeting and received a quality award from the European Quality Research Community. That year, the “White Road” system was introduced on the Metrobüs line to reduce maintenance costs and enhance journey safety.

Current İETT Services

İstanbul Electric Tramway and Tunnel Operations (İETT) currently provides a variety of public transportation services across Istanbul. These services are categorized as follows:

Bus Operations

İETT organizes bus services throughout Istanbul for urban passenger transportation.

• As of 2025, İETT’s fleet includes approximately 3735 buses.
• Buses operate along designated routes with an extensive network covering both the European and Asian sides of the city.
• Schedules are planned according to daily passenger demand and traffic congestion, with increased frequency on high-demand routes.

Metrobüs Operations

Metrobüs is a high-capacity public transportation system operated by İETT using a dedicated bus rapid transit (BRT) corridor.

• It connects Söğütlüçeşme with Beylikdüzü.
• The line has 44 stations and spans approximately 52 kilometers.
• Operating independently from general city traffic, it provides fast and uninterrupted transit.
• It is one of the few lines offering 24-hour continuous service.

Nostalgic Tramway

İETT operates nostalgic tramway services in two areas:

• Taksim–Tünel Line (Beyoğlu Nostalgic Tramway)
• Kadıköy–Moda Line (Kadıköy Nostalgic Tramway)

These lines provide limited-distance service in areas of significant tourist and historical value.

Tünel Operation

• The Karaköy–Beyoğlu Tünel Line is an underground transportation system operated by İETT that has been in service since 1875.
• The Tünel is one of the world’s oldest second underground transit systems.
• It operates on a steep incline between two stations over a short distance.

Coordination of Private Public Buses

İETT monitors and regulates the routes, fares, and service quality of private public buses.

• Private public buses operate in integration with İETT and use the same ticketing system.

Public Transportation Management and Oversight Services

• İETT manages departure schedules, vehicle tracking, and passenger density control for all bus and Metrobüs lines across Istanbul.
• Route planning and service optimization are continuously implemented to enhance the efficiency of public transportation.

Intelligent Transportation Systems

• Real-time vehicle tracking
• Stop information displays
• Passenger information via mobile applications
• Electronic fare collection systems

These technological applications are actively utilized by İETT.

Current Public Buses in Use (İETT)

Chronological Development of Services and Applications

• Horse-drawn Tramway (1871)
• Electric Tramway (1914)
• Bus Service (1930)
• Trolleybus Service (1961)
• Nostalgic Tramway (1991)
• Double-Decker Buses (1993)
• AKBIL Electronic Ticket (1995)
• Moda Tramway (2003)
• Single Ticket and Integration (2006)
• Metrobüs (2007)
• Mobil İETT Applications (2009)
• İstanbulkart (2015)
• Female Security Officers and Female Drivers (2019–2020)
• Electric Vehicles for Princes’ Islands Transport (2020)
• White Road System (2022)