Tünel

Tünel, which translates as "tunnel", is one of Istanbul's subterranean funiculars. It connects the transit hub Karaköy, where trams, buses, and ferries converge, to the Galata Tower and the famed retail boulevard Istiklal Caddesi. The Tünel was established in 1875, making it the second oldest underground urban rail line in the world after London's Underground. The funicular rises 203 feet, with two cabins—one somewhat older and nicer than the other—moving in opposing directions and delivering around 12,000 people every day. You may either walk down to visit the Galata Tower or take the ancient tram down Istiklal Caddesi to Taksim Square. The initial rolling stock was two two-car wooden trains.

One vehicle was set aside for passengers, with its two classes separated into sections for men and women. The other vehicle was used to convey goods, livestock, and carts. Steam engines supplied motive power. The wooden carriages were replaced in 1971 with two electrified steel trains moving on pneumatic tires on concrete rails, thus it may be dubbed a rubber-tired funicular, comparable to the rubber-tyred metro. A new generation of rolling stock entered service in 2007. Each car can now accommodate 170 passengers and travel at a top speed of 22 km/h. The travel from top to bottom takes roughly 1.5 minutes, with a 3.5-minute wait. In 2021, the Tünel's first female driver was hired.

Location: Istanbul, Turkey