Newsletters
Major rail lines, including Istanbul’s Marmaray, Ankara’s Baskentray and Izmir’s IZBAN will operate free of charge during Qurban Bayram, also known as Eid al-Adha, alongside toll-free roads and bridges, Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu announced Tuesday. The holiday is set to take place on June 6–9.
Uraloglu noted that Istanbul’s Sirkeci–Kazlicesme rail system and the Gayrettepe–Istanbul Airport–Arnavutkoy metro line will also be included in the free services, aiming to support residents spending the holiday in the city and help ease traffic congestion.
In addition to free urban transit, tolls will be lifted during the Eid holiday on highways operated by the General Directorate of Highways (KGM), as well as on the Fatih Sultan Mehmet and July 15 Martyrs bridges in Istanbul.
These measures are intended to facilitate long-distance travel, as millions are expected to visit relatives across the country.
The minister also confirmed an increase in capacity on major rail routes to meet heightened demand during the holiday period. On June 5, 8, and 9, the Ankara–Istanbul high-speed train (YHT) line will offer an additional 2,466 seats. Another 8,400 seats will be added across mainline and regional trains, raising the total increase in capacity to 10,866 seats.
1 min read
2 min read
