Istanbul‘s Banliyö Treni (suburban trains, from the French banlieue) are no longer running. Their routes and function are being incorporated into the Marmaray system.
The first phase of the Marmaray line, from Kazlıçeşme, Yenikapı and Sirkeci in Europe via the new tunnel that runs beneath the Bosphorus to Üskudar and Ayrılık Çeşmesi in Asia, is open and operating, making it possible to cross from Old Istanbul in Europe to Üsküdar in Asia in a matter of minutes.
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At Yenikapı you can take ferryboats to Asian suburbs of Istanbul, and to ports on the southern coast of the Sea of Marmara. More…
On the Asian side, at the Marmaray’s Ayrılık Çeşmesi you can take the M4 Metro line to Kartal, then an E-10 city bus to Sabiha Gökçen Airport.
Eventually the Marmaray commuter rail system will run all the way from Halkalı in the west to Gebze in the east. More…
You use a jeton (token), IstanbulKart fare card or Biletmatik paper fare card to ride. Here’s more on fares and how to pay them.
—by Tom Brosnahan
| Marmaray Commuter Rail |  |
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