Konya Tramway

Konya Tramway is a light rail transit system operating in the city of Konya, Türkiye. It became operational in 1992 as the first modern tramway system to serve the Anatolian region.^【1】 Today, the system spans approximately 41 kilometers and serves a total of 44 stations across two main lines.^【2】 Operated by the Intelligent Public Transport System (ATUS) under the Konya Metropolitan Municipality, the tramway forms the backbone of the city’s public transportation network.

The roots of tramway transportation in Konya extend back to the Ottoman period. The city’s public transport history began with horse-drawn trams and evolved into today’s modern electric system.

Konya’s first tramway project was proposed in 1906. Yusuf Mazhar, a constructor from the İzmir Electric Tramway Company, along with Yaruba Kapulu and German citizen August Iztor, submitted a proposal to the Konya Municipality. The proposal included the construction of a 30-kilometer electric tramway line and the distribution of electricity across a 20-kilometer radius, in exchange for a 99-year concession, alongside the establishment of a power plant near the Government House.^【3】

With the favorable opinion of the Konya Municipality and provincial administration, the project was presented to the Ministry of Trade and Agriculture and the Ministry of Public Works. The official process continued after reviews by the Grand Vizierate and the State Council, culminating in approval by the Council of Ministers. The project was approved by Sultan Abdulhamid II on 1 March 1906. However, this initiative, which was Konya’s first electric tramway and lighting project, was soon canceled due to high costs.

Following the cancellation of the first electric tramway project, in 1917, at the initiative of then-Governor of Konya and Grand Vizier Avlonyalı Ferit Paşa, the horse-drawn tramway system from Thessaloniki was relocated to Konya.^【4】 This tramway operated on a route starting from the Atatürk Monument, passing through Gazi High School, and terminating at the old Park Cinema. A second line departed from the Government House and extended to Sultan Selim Mosque.

However, in the early 1920s, the newly established Automobile Company introduced two small buses to operate between the station and the Government House. This development reduced public interest in the tramway, and in 1924, the horse-drawn tramway system was officially discontinued by the then-mayor. The tramcars were scrapped, and the rails were melted down and repurposed as utility poles.

63 years after the discontinuation of the horse-drawn tramway, in 1986, the need for a modern light rail system arose due to the city’s expansion and the relocation of Selçuk University’s campus away from the city center. The existing bus fleet could no longer accommodate passenger demand, and rising fuel costs for campus access provided the primary justification for the tramway project.

On 9 July 1987, a credit agreement worth 38 million Deutsche Marks was signed between the German state institution Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW) and the Republic of Türkiye. The foundation of Konya Rail System Operation was laid on 13 July 1987 by the then-Prime Minister. Under the project, the German firm Obermeyer-Rail Consult was appointed as consultant, and the consulting contract was signed on 23 October 1987.^【5】

Construction of the Konya tramway system began in 1987. The first of 16 tramcars ordered under the tender was transported from Cologne, Germany, starting on 25 November 1988. These tramcars were second-hand vehicles purchased from the Cologne Public Transport Authority (KVB), manufactured by the Düsseldorf DÜWAG plant between 1963 and 1967 as Duewag GT8 models.

On 15 April 1992, the first electrical power was supplied to tramcar number 104, marking its inaugural movement between the depot and Cumhuriyet Station. The official inauguration took place on 23 April 1992, followed by trial runs and driver training. After completion of training and testing, the first phase of the line—the 10.5-kilometer Alaaddin-Cumhuriyet section—was opened to the public on 28 September 1992. The system initially operated free of charge but soon transitioned to a fare-based model.

After completion of construction and installation of the second phase—an 8-kilometer stretch from Cumhuriyet to Campus—trial runs began on 21 December 1995. The line was officially inaugurated on 19 April 1996 in a ceremony attended by then-President Süleyman Demirel.^【6】

All assembly and construction work for the main line of the Konya tramway system, with a total length of approximately 18.5 kilometers, was carried out by teams of the Konya Metropolitan Municipality. The electro-mechanical equipment used in the system was sourced from Germany, while the railway sleepers were purchased from TCDD’s Afyon Sleepers Factory.

The track gauge used on the railway is the standard 1435 millimeters. The overhead catenary system operates at 750 volts direct current and is fed from six substations. Grooved rails were installed at intersections and part of the depot area, while standard S49 rails were used elsewhere. The rails are continuously welded by municipal personnel using Aluminothermic welding.

Following the initial 16 tramcars, an additional 25 tramcars were purchased between 1995 and 1996 to meet growing demand. In anticipation of future lines planned for 2001, another 26 vehicles were acquired, with the first ten entering service on 11 October 2001.

The original tramcars used in the system are Duewag GT8 models manufactured in Cologne between 1963 and 1967. These are unidirectional, eight-axle, two-articulated vehicles. Each car is 30 meters long and 2.5 meters wide, with a total passenger capacity of 331, including 83 seated. Each tramcar is equipped with two 150-kilowatt direct current motors and has a maximum speed of 67 kilometers per hour.

In 2009, the KonyaRay project was planned as a critical milestone for Konya’s rail system, initiating efforts to renew the existing fleet of 60 Duewag GT8 tramcars. In 2012, an agreement was reached with Škoda, and an order was placed for 60 new Škoda Tramcar 28T models.

These fully low-floor modern tramcars have a capacity of 364 passengers. They are 32.5 meters long and 2.55 meters wide, featuring doors on both sides, WiFi connectivity, and the ability to couple together. The first of these tramcars arrived in Konya in October 2013 and entered service in February 2014 after testing.^【7】 Their maximum speed is 70 kilometers per hour, and they operate on a 750-volt DC electrical system.

The Konya tramway system currently operates across two main lines.

This line entered service in 1999 and spans 36.7 kilometers with 35 stations. It begins at Alaaddin Station in the city center and extends to Selçuk University campus. Key stops along the route include Zafer, Kule, Kunduracılar, Eski Sanayi, Otogar, Erenkaya, Yazır, Sancak, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and several faculty stops within the campus.

The T1 line is of great importance as it serves Bosna-Hersek Neighborhood, one of the city’s most densely populated areas, and provides essential access for university students to the campus. The line operates at regular intervals from 06:00 to 24:00 daily, with additional night services.

The T2 line, whose foundation was laid in 2013 and which entered service in 2015, is 4.4 kilometers long and serves nine stations. It was constructed to provide service to the Karatay district of the city. In a first for Türkiye, the section between Alaaddin and Mevlana stations was built without overhead catenary wires.

This approach eliminated visual pollution from overhead wires and poles, preserving the aesthetic silhouette of the historic city center surrounding the Mevlana Tomb. Transfers to the T1 line are available at Zafer and Alaaddin stations.

^{Konya tramway} (Konya Metropolitan Municipality)

In 2005, a protocol signed between the Konya Metropolitan Municipality and Selçuk University decided to extend the tramway line into the campus. As part of this project, the tramway was extended by 3.5 kilometers, and in the 2006–2007 academic year, stops serving the Faculty of Medicine, Faculty of Engineering, Faculty of Letters and Sciences, and Faculty of Law were opened for service.

The Konya tramway system operates in integration with the Konyakart system developed by the Konya Metropolitan Municipality. Passengers can pay using electronic Konyakart cards or contactless bank cards.

The electronic card system, introduced in 2001, was initially used alongside paper tickets but eventually replaced them entirely. With a Konyakart, transfers on the same line are free. A second journey within a specified time frame on other lines receives a 40 percent discount.

The system also offers a monthly unlimited pass. With a personalized Konyakart, users can travel unlimitedly on all buses and trams within Konya for 30 days.

The Konya tramway system is operated by the Intelligent Public Transport System (ATUS), affiliated with the Konya Metropolitan Municipality. ATUS maintains a workshop and depot facility covering 6,385 square meters. Approximately 60 staff members work in technical and administrative roles, five of whom are engineers.

The system has a capacity of 12,000 passengers per direction and serves an average of 110,000 passengers daily. Passengers can track tram schedules, routes, and real-time vehicle locations via the ATUS website and mobile application.

In 2020, the Konya Metropolitan Municipality achieved a first in Türkiye in line with its “Bicycle City Konya” vision. Two of the long-serving Duewag GT8 tramcars were redesigned and reintroduced in September 2020 as “Bicycle Trams.” Special bicycle storage areas were installed, enabling seamless integration between cycling and tram transport.

Additionally, in response to the increased passenger demand following the opening of Konya City Hospital, plans are underway to refurbish and modernize the nostalgic German-made tramcars that have been in service since 1992 for reintegration into the Adliye–Alaaddin line.

Under Konya Metropolitan Municipality’s “2030 Transport Master Plan,” the rail network is set for significant expansion. The launch of the KonyaRay suburban rail project in 2023 has opened the way for new tramway investments in the city.

The current 27-kilometer rail network is planned to expand beyond 100 kilometers with the addition of new tram and suburban lines.^【8】 One line is currently under construction, and two more are in the planning phase.

The planned extension to Konya City Hospital includes designating the final stop of the Adliye–Alaaddin line as the hospital. This project aims to improve access to healthcare services and strengthen public transportation connectivity to the city hospital.

The Konya tramway forms the backbone of the city’s public transportation system, serving an average of 110,000 passengers daily. It is a critical transport link for students and staff of Selçuk University and residents of densely populated neighborhoods such as Bosna-Hersek. By providing easy access to key landmarks—including the Mevlana Tomb, Alaaddin Hill, Selçuk University, and the city center—the tramway facilitates mobility for both local residents and tourists visiting the city. Moreover, as the pioneer of modern tramway transportation in Anatolia, the Konya tramway has served as a model for rail transit projects in other Anatolian cities.