İETT

İETT, short for İstanbul Elektrik, Tramvay ve Tünel İşletmeleri, is the public transport authority associated with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. Its modern institutional form dates from 1939, when legislation brought several electricity, tramway and tunnel-related operations together under a general directorate. Although the organization originally had responsibilities extending beyond passenger transport, its contemporary identity is centered on urban mobility in Istanbul. The authority operates and coordinates a broad surface-transport network. Its principal services include conventional city buses, articulated buses, Metrobus services, nostalgic tramways and the historic Tünel funicular linking the Galata and Beyoğlu areas. İETT also administers, manages or supervises services operated through related municipal transport arrangements, including Istanbul Ulaşım A.Ş. and Private Public Buses. This gives the institution a role that extends beyond simply owning vehicles: it is part of the governance, planning and operational structure of Istanbul's public transportation system. Istanbul's tramway history predates İETT by many decades. Horse-drawn trams began operating in 1871, while the Tünel opened to passengers in 1875 and became one of the world's earliest underground railways. Tram lines were electrified in 1914. After the establishment of the Republic of Turkey, public transport operations were progressively reorganized and consolidated. The 1939 institutional merger created the organization that developed into İETT. During the twentieth century, it expanded bus operations, introduced trolleybuses and later developed higher-capacity bus services. The authority's historical scope once included utilities. In 1945, coal-gas factories and distribution infrastructure in Istanbul were transferred to İETT. Electricity responsibilities were subsequently moved to the Turkish Electricity Administration, with the transfer completed during the 1980s. Coal-gas production and distribution ended in 1993 as natural gas and newer utility technologies displaced the older system. These changes left public transport as İETT's defining area of activity. Buses became increasingly important as Istanbul expanded and tram routes were reduced during the mid-twentieth century. The fleet developed through purchases from European, American and Turkish manufacturers, including Scania-Vabis, Leyland, Mercedes-Benz, Magirus, Ikarus, MAN, Otokar and Karsan. Trolleybuses operated from the 1960s until 1984, but were ultimately withdrawn because power interruptions could disrupt traffic. İETT later introduced more accessible, low-floor and lower-emission buses, as well as articulated vehicles for heavily used corridors. Metrobus service began in 2007 as a high-capacity bus rapid transit operation using air-conditioned, low-floor and accessible buses. It became one of the most significant components of Istanbul's surface transit system; the referenced material reports average daily ridership of approximately 800,000 passengers in 2022. İETT's tram presence today is concentrated particularly in heritage and nostalgic services, including the T2 route between Taksim and Tünel on Istiklal Avenue and the T3 circular route in Moda, Kadıköy. The organization therefore combines historical continuity with mass-transit operations. Its brand is associated with municipal service, network scale, Istanbul's distinctive tram and tunnel heritage, and the practical provision of bus-based mobility across a very large metropolitan area. İETT remains an active public authority rather than a listed commercial company, and its activities are closely connected to the transport policies and administrative structure of Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality.

Istanbul's organized public transport history began before the creation of İETT. In 1871, the Dersaadet Tram Company started horse-drawn tram services on several routes, including connections between Azapkapı and Galata, Aksaray and Yedikule, Aksaray and Topkapı, and Eminönü and Aksaray. The network carried millions of passengers in its first year. The Tünel, whose construction also began in 1871, opened for passenger service in January 1875 after an initial period in which it was used for livestock and freight. It became one of the earliest underground railway operations in the world. Tram operations were electrified in February 1914. A new Üsküdar–Kısıklı line opened in 1928, and the tramway remained a central part of Istanbul's mobility system through the first half of the twentieth century. By 1956, the network had reached approximately 130 kilometres, with 56 lines and 270 trams serving around 108 million passenger journeys. Following the 1960 military coup, the traditional tramway began to be phased out in favor of motorized transport. European-side services ended in 1961, while the final Anatolian-side services continued until 1966. Bus operations developed alongside the tramway. Four Renault-Scémia buses were acquired in 1926, and one began a trial route between Beyazıt and Taksim in June 1927. Additional services connected Beyazıt with Eminönü and later Karaköy. When the major institutional consolidation occurred in 1939, the organization had only a small bus fleet. Wartime procurement was difficult: an order for White Motor Company buses was affected by shipping and production problems, while later purchases included Scania-Vabis vehicles. Other makes, including Twin Coach, Chevrolet and Fargo, also entered service. İETT was formed in its modern institutional form in 1939 through the nationalization and consolidation of several companies under Law 3645. The resulting general directorate initially had a wider utility remit. In 1945, Istanbul's Yedikule and Hasanpaşa coal-gas factories and their distribution networks were transferred to the organization. Electricity-related responsibilities were progressively separated, and a 1982 legal change transferred authority over electricity to the Turkish Electricity Administration. Coal-gas production and distribution continued until 1993, when the activity was ended as natural gas became more widely used and the older technology was retired. Trolleybuses were introduced during the 1960s because the tram network could not meet rising demand and trolleybuses appeared more economical than conventional buses. They operated under dual overhead wires on routes including Topkapı–Eminönü. The system reached about 100 trolleybuses and approximately 45 kilometres of routes, but power interruptions caused operational and traffic problems. The remaining trolleybuses were withdrawn in 1984 and transferred to ESHOT in İzmir. The bus fleet expanded substantially during the postwar period. İETT acquired vehicles from manufacturers such as Škoda, Mercedes-Benz, Büssing and Magirus, later adding large orders from Leyland. Further purchases from Mercedes-Benz, Magirus, Ikarus and MAN supported the network during the late 1970s and early 1980s. A DAF Optare double-decker entered service in 1993. Later procurement emphasized more environmentally compatible vehicles, including Mercedes buses in 1998 and Euro III-engine buses in 2006. The contemporary organization is focused on public transportation. It operates bus services, Metrobus, selected trams and the Tünel, while also managing or supervising connected municipal and private-public-bus arrangements. In 2007 it launched Metrobus, a high-capacity bus rapid transit service built around accessible, low-floor and air-conditioned vehicles. The referenced material records approximately 800,000 average daily Metrobus passengers in 2022. İETT also preserves Istanbul's transport heritage through the T2 nostalgic tram between Taksim and Tünel and the T3 circular tram in Moda, Kadıköy. A 2020 decision of the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Council provided for buses operated by Istanbul Ulaşım A.Ş. and Private Public Bus arrangements to operate under a common İETT color and organizational roof. This reflects the authority's continuing role as an integrating institution within Istanbul's fragmented but interconnected public transport system.

1. 2020Common İETT operating framework for bus services

   The Metropolitan Municipality Council provides for Istanbul Ulaşım A.Ş. and Private Public Buses to operate under a common İETT color and organizational framework.

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2. 2007Metrobus service launches

   İETT introduces a high-capacity bus rapid transit service for Istanbul.

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3. 1993Coal-gas production ends

   İETT ends coal-gas production and distribution as natural gas and newer technologies replace the older system.

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4. 1984Trolleybus operations end

   İETT withdraws its trolleybuses and transfers the vehicles to ESHOT in İzmir.

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5. 1961European-side traditional tram services end

   Traditional European-side tram operations are discontinued as motorized transport expands.

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6. 1945Coal-gas operations transfer to İETT

   The Yedikule and Hasanpaşa coal-gas factories and their distribution networks are transferred to İETT.

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7. 1939Modern İETT institution is established

   Law 3645 consolidates and nationalizes several operations under the Istanbul Electricity, Tram and Tunnel General Directorate.

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8. 1914Istanbul tramways are electrified

   The city's tram lines begin operating with electric traction on February 2.

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9. 1875Tünel opens to passengers

   The historic Tünel underground railway opens for passenger service on January 17.

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10. 1871Horse-drawn tram services begin

    The Dersaadet Tram Company begins operating horse-drawn tram routes in Istanbul.

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A municipal, network-scale public transport operator and authority serving Istanbul through buses, high-capacity Metrobus corridors, heritage tramways and the historic Tünel.

• Municipal bus servicesUrban bus transport1927

  İETT's conventional bus network provides citywide public transportation across Istanbul. Its historical fleet has included standard, articulated and double-decker buses from multiple international and Turkish manufacturers. Modern procurement has emphasized low-floor accessibility, air conditioning and improved emissions performance.

• MetrobusBus rapid transit2007

  Metrobus is İETT's high-capacity bus rapid transit service, launched in 2007. It uses dedicated or priority infrastructure and vehicles designed for intensive urban demand, including low-floor, air-conditioned and accessible buses. The service is among Istanbul's most heavily used surface transport operations.

• T2 Taksim–Tünel nostalgic tramHeritage tram

  The T2 nostalgic tram runs along Istiklal Avenue between Taksim and Tünel. It preserves the visual and experiential character of Istanbul's historic tramway while serving a central pedestrian and tourist corridor.

• T3 Moda tramHeritage tram

  The T3 is a nostalgic tram operating as a circular route in the Moda area of Kadıköy on Istanbul's Asian side. It combines local mobility with the preservation of the city's tram heritage.

• TünelFunicular and historic urban railway1875

  The Tünel connects the Galata and Beyoğlu areas and dates from the nineteenth century. It opened to passengers in 1875 and remains one of Istanbul's most distinctive historic urban transport services.

• 2020Bring associated bus services under a common İETT frameworkStrategy

  Istanbul's bus services included operations associated with Istanbul Ulaşım A.Ş. and Private Public Buses.

  What changed. The Metropolitan Municipality Council decided that these buses would operate under a common İETT color and organizational roof.

  Aftermath. The decision strengthened İETT's role as an integrating authority for Istanbul's bus network.

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• 2007Launch of MetrobusProduct launch

  Istanbul required higher-capacity surface transport for heavily traveled metropolitan corridors.

  What changed. İETT introduced Metrobus using high-capacity, air-conditioned, low-floor and accessible buses.

  Aftermath. Metrobus became a major component of Istanbul's public transport system and was reported to carry approximately 800,000 passengers per day on average in 2022.

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• 2022Istanbul Metrobus reports approximately 800,000 average daily passengers

  The referenced account reports that Metrobus carried an average of about 800,000 passengers per day in 2022.

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• 2007Metrobus service becomes a major high-capacity Istanbul transit corridor

  İETT began Metrobus operations using high-capacity, air-conditioned, low-floor and accessible buses.

  Product launch
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1. Istanbul Electricity, Tram and Tunnel Establishments
2. İETT official website