M3 (Istanbul Metro)

The M3, officially referred to as the M3 Bakırköy Sahil–Kayaşehir Merkez Metro Line (Turkish: M3 Bakırköy Sahil-Kayaşehir Merkez Metro Hattı), is a 26.7-kilometre (16.6 mi), 20-station^[1] rapid transit line of the Istanbul Metro system on the European part of Istanbul, Turkey. It operates between Bakırköy Sahil and Kayaşehir Merkez. The line is colored light blue on station signs, route signs and the official rapid transit network map.^[1]

The construction of the line began in 2006 following the signing of the related contract in May of that year. By March 2009, the tunnels were completed.^[1] The first train for the line was delivered on 29 October 2008,^[2][3] and in December 2010, the first test run of the trains was accomplished.^[1] The line's operation rights were transferred from the İETT bus authority to İstanbul Ulaşım (now Metro İstanbul) in June 2011.^[1] After the line's signalization system was completely installed in March 2012, test runs began in June 2012.^[1] The line started operating unofficially from Kirazlı to Metrokent on 10 September 2012,^[4][5] and officially entered service on 14 June 2013.^[6][7] The branch line to Olimpiyat later opened on 22 November 2013.^[1] The Ikitelli-Olimpiyat branch was converted into the M9 in May 29, 2021.^[8] The northern extension to Kayaşehir Merkez was opened on 8 April 2023,^[9] while the southern section from Kirazlı to Bakırköy Sahil was inaugurated on 10 March 2024.^[10] Yıldıztepe station, on the section between Kirazlı and Bakırköy Sahil, opened on 8 October 2025.^[11]

Özgürlük Meydanı, Haznedar, İlkyuva, Onurkent, Toplu Konutlar and Kayaşehir Merkez stations are bored in situ without removing the ground above, while all other underground stations on the line are built by cut-and-cover method, constructed in a shallow trench and then covered over. The line's tunnels are twin tubes. The Kirazlı-Metrokent and Kirazlı-Bakırköy Sahil sections was constructed by tunnel boring machine (TBM).

The M3 line is 26.7 kilometres (16.6 mi) long, serving 20 stations in total. The operation control center of the M3-line is situated in MetroKent. The rolling stock and maintenance depots are located in Olimpiyatköy beyond Olimpiyat Parkı Terminal, stretching over an area of (70,000 m² (750,000 sq ft)). The rolling stock depot is capable of holding 180 cars. The maintenance workshop occupies a covered area of 10,000 m² (110,000 sq ft).^[1]

The rolling stock was delivered by the French company Alstom. The fully air-conditioned cars, costing each €1.149 million, feature seats covered with antibacterial textile material. It is possible to pass from one car to another in a train to enable a homogeneous distribution of the passenger crowd.^[12]

A total of 80 cars, 20 sets of four-car trains, are able to transport up to 70,000 passenger per hour per direction between the operating hours from 6:00 h in the early morning to 0:00 h in the midnight. The ride between the terminals Bakırköy Sahil and Kayaşehir Merkez takes 39 minutes. The trains run every five minutes during rush hours.^[1]

All the stations are equipped with closed-circuit video system for continuous monitoring of the platforms. High-level fire safety systems, which include automatic fire extinguishers and fire exits, are installed in the metro line, where non-flammable and fireproofing materials were used.^[1]

Power supply of the line is provided at two different points. In case of power cut at both supply points, an emergency power system that becomes operational within 15 seconds, ensures running of the trains until the next station. If the backup generator system fails, an uninterruptible power source (UPS) supplies energy for emergency lighting and the electronic devices at the operations control center up to three hours. The signalization of the metro line as well as at the depots and railroad switches, also the vehicle drive-control systems are fully automated. However, they can be handled manually when needed.^[1]

All stations are underground.

This line is operated by Alstom trains which are visually similar to the AM5-M2 and AM4-M4 trains also built by Alstom that operate on the Budapest Metro. The main difference is that the Istanbul units are equipped with pantographs for overhead line operation only while the Budapest units are equipped with shoegear for third rail operation only.^[1]

• M3 Metro Train
• M3 Mahmutbey Metro Station
• M3 Mahmutbey Metro Station

• Istanbul modern tramways
• Istanbul nostalgic tramways
• Marmaray
• Public transport in Istanbul

• İstanbul Ulaşım – M3 Kirazli–Basaksehir–Olimpiyatkoy Metro Line (official webpage)