Southern Line (İZBAN)

Southern Line
Southern Line
	A southbound train approaching Torbalı station in 2016.
Overview
Status	Operating
Owner	TCDD, İBB
Locale	İzmir, Turkey
Termini	Alsancak; Selçuk;
Stations	21
Service
Type	Commuter rail
System	İZBAN
Operator(s)	İZBAN
Depot(s)	Cumaovası
Rolling stock	E22000; E22100
Daily ridership	40,500 (2010)
History
Opened	August 30, 2010
Technical
Line length	77 km (47.8 mi)
Number of tracks	2
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
Electrification	25 kV AC
Operating speed	140 km/h (87 mph)
Route map
Route map
	Legend
	This diagram: view; talk; edit;

The Southern Line (Turkish: Güney hattı) is an electrified commuter rail line running south from Alsancak Terminal in İzmir to Torbalı operated by İZBAN, using trackage owned by the Turkish State Railways. The route services the densely populated areas of western Buca and central Gaziemir as well as Adnan Menderes International Airport via the rebuilt airport station. Between 2010 and 2016 the southern terminus of the line was Cumaovası near Menderes. On 6 February 2016, the line was extended about 30 km (19 mi) south to Tepeköy in Torbalı and on 9 September 2017 extended further south to Selçuk.^[1]

All stations are wheelchair accessible with elevators.^[2]

The Southern Line has carried approximately 1 million passengers in the first six months from opening and carries an average 40,500 passengers daily, making it the busiest commuter rail line in Turkey, surpassing the Haydarpaşa-Gebze Commuter Line in Istanbul that held the record for over 30 years.^[3]

Route

The Southern Line starts at Alsancak Terminal in Alsancak. From there it continues south (crossing the tracks to Basmane at the famous Hilal Cross) towards Kemer and then traverses the southern hills of Kadifekale. At Şirinyer, the tracks enter the Şirinyer Tunnel, where it stops at Şirinyer station. After exiting the tunnel, the line goes through Buca, under the Karabağlar Intersection and into Gaziemir. After Gaziemir, the line stops at Adnan Menderes Airport and then leaves the city limits to its final destination; Cumaovası.^{[needs update]}