User:Kiel457/Erbil Metro

Erbil Metro
Overview
Native nameSorani Kurdish: ميترۆ هەولێر
Kurdish: Metroya Hewlêr
OwnerIraq Kurdistan Region Iraqi Kurdistan
LocaleArbil
Number of lines1
Line numberA1 Green Line
Number of stations10
Operation
Began operationA1 Light Rail Line : October 15, 2016 (2016-10-15)
Operator(s)Erbil Metro Ltd.
Number of vehicles21 (Breda-AEG)
95 (Rotem)
Train length77 m (253 ft) per train car.
Technical
Electrification750 v
Average speedA1 Light Rail Line : 38 km/h (24 mph)
Top speed80 km/h (50 mph)

The Erbil Metro (Kurdish: Metroya Hewlêr, Sorani Kurdish: ميترۆ هەولێر and Arabic: المترو اربيل) is a single-line underground light rail rapid transit system in the Iraqi Kurdish capital of Erbil. Opened on October 15, 2016 (2016-10-15), it is the first rapid transit system in Iraqi Kurdistan.

History

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Plans for a light rail rapid transit system in Arbil, was first conceived by the Barzani family in 2008, due to the city's increasing road traffic. The president of Iraqi Kurdistan Massoud Barzani broke ground of the Metro on January 25, 2013 (2013-01-25).

Construction

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The Metro was constructed by a consortium of Turkish companies Tekfen-Yüksel-İçtaş. Construction began on February 3, 2013 (2013-02-03), and ended on September 5, 2016 (2016-09-05).

Rolling stock

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All trains used on Arbil Metro are Ankara Metro's former light rail trains (Breda-Siemens-AEG). The mayor of Ankara Melih Gökçek, in his speaking at the Promotional Days of Ankara in Erbil, said that he will donate 21 Ankaray trains to the city of Erbil. The dismantling of the Ankaray trains, began on September 18, 2016 (2016-09-18), and ended on September 22, 2016 (2016-09-22). 21 trains then loaded onto special Goldhofer road trailers. 21 traincars left for Erbil on September 23, 2016 (2016-09-23), and passed through Gölbaşı, Şereflikoçhisar, Aksaray, Ulukışla, Pozantı, Tarsus, Adana, Ceyhan, Osmaniye, Gaziantep, Urfa, Viranşehir, Nusaybin, Cizre, Silopi, and arrived to Habur border gate in 4 days, where all customs process were done. Trains then reached Zakho, Dahuk and found themselves in Erbil. The former logo of the Greater Municipality of Ankara can be seen on the trains.

Future of the Erbil Metro

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Nechervan Barzani said in a written statement that, he agreed with the Mayor of Istanbul Kadir Topbaş for donation of Rotem trains to the city of Erbil. As in the Ankaray Breda-Siemens-AEG light rail trains, the warnings will be changed, and with the donation of the former Istanbul Metro M2 Line trains, the L.C.D. screens will be introduced to the Metro for the first time, displaying the station name in Sorani Kurdish, Arabic, Turkish and English language. The A1 metro line will be upgraded to heavy rail, thus supporting both light- and heavy-rail, which in turn that the Erbil Metro will be a hybrid railway. Like the former Ankaray trains, these trains will be transported by too-long flatbed trailers from İstanbul and the trains' delivery will be completed by July 15, 2017 (2017-07-15).

 
While the former Ankaray trains remains to be used, the new Erbil Metro trains will be donated from Istanbul Metro like this one.
 
By July 15, 2017 (2017-07-15) Democracy and Unity Day in Turkey, both older Ankaray light rail and the new ex-Istanbul Metro trains will be functional.

Stations

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Stations (A1)
Erbil International Airport
Ainkawa
Turkish Consulate in Erbil
60 Meter Street
Barzani Namr
Erbil Citadel
Franso Hareri Stadium
Kirkuk Road 1
Kirkuk Road 2
Kirkuk Road 3

References

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