Türkiye: Five Rail Lines Free on 29 October 2026

Başkentray, Marmaray, İZBAN, the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme rail line and the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Halkalı metro will carry passengers free of charge on Thursday, 29 October, under a decision signed by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and published in the Official Gazette, state broadcaster TRT Haber reported.

Which lines are free on 29 October?

All five are urban rail lines run by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure. The decision, carried by TRT Haber, lists them by name: Başkentray in Ankara, Marmaray and the Sirkeci-Kazlıçeşme line in Istanbul, İZBAN in İzmir, and the Gayrettepe-Istanbul Airport-Halkalı metro, which serves both Istanbul and the airport.

Which Istanbul roads close, and when?

The Istanbul Governor’s Office said Adnan Menderes Boulevard (Vatan Caddesi) will be shut to traffic from 05.45 until the ceremony ends on Thursday, 29 October.

The official parade takes place on the boulevard that day. The ceremonies mark the 103rd anniversary of the Republic.

Entries to the boulevard from the D-100 in both directions, from Edirnekapı, and from 10th Year, Oğuzhan, Sofular, Halıcılar, Akdeniz, Akşemsettin and Ordu avenues, Atatürk Boulevard, Keçeci Meydan Street and the southbound side of Hal Yolu will also be closed.

Drivers can use Turgut Özal Millet and Fevzipaşa avenues, Atatürk Boulevard, the D-100 highway and O-3 Hal Yolu instead. According to the Governor’s Office, 111 personnel are on duty: 22 teams at 58 points, 28 MEDAR mobile speed-detection units, 36 officers on foot and 3 tow trucks.

Is public transport free in other provinces?

No. The decision names only lines in Ankara, Istanbul and İzmir and provides no free travel in other provinces, TRT Haber reported. No separate announcement has been made about municipal public transport.

Traffic cannot join Adnan Menderes Boulevard from any of the avenues and side streets that lead onto it, and Tatlıpınar, Kaleboyu and Sulukule avenues are also inside the closure zone.