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Turkey's Bosphorus tunnel to open sub-sea Asia link Turkey's Bosphorus tunnel to open sub-sea Asia link
(about 3 hours later)
A railway tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait is due to open in Turkey, creating a new link between the Asian and European shores of Istanbul.A railway tunnel underneath the Bosphorus Strait is due to open in Turkey, creating a new link between the Asian and European shores of Istanbul.
Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has for years championed the undersea engineering project, conceived by an Ottoman sultan in 1860. The tunnel is the world's first connecting two continents, and is designed to withstand earthquakes.
Work began in 2004 but archaeological excavations delayed the construction. It is being opened on the 90th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey.
Japan invested $1bn of the $4bn total cost of the 0.8 mile (1.4 km) tunnel, designed to withstand earthquakes. Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has for years championed the undersea engineering project, first conceived by an Ottoman sultan in 1860.
It is scheduled to be inaugurated at 13:00 GMT. Work began in 2004 but archaeological excavations delayed construction.
The underwater section runs for 0.8 miles (1.4 km), but in total the tunnel is 8.5 miles (13.6 km) long. It is scheduled to be inaugurated at 13:00 GMT.
Japan invested $1bn of the $4bn (£3.4bn) total cost of the project, named Marmaray, which is a conflation of the nearby Sea of Marmara with "ray", the Turkish word for rail.
'Pharaonic''Pharaonic'
The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says that now the tunnel is finished, the Turkish government hopes the new route under the Bosphorus will eventually develop into an important trading route, extending from China all the way to western Europe. The BBC's James Reynolds in Istanbul says the Turkish government hopes the new route under the Bosphorus will eventually develop into an important trading route.
Critics of Mr Erdogan have seen the tunnel as one of his grandiose construction projects for the city where he used to be mayor. In theory it will be possible to travel between London and Beijing by train, though there are no plans for a direct service.
Detractors of his proposals, including a third airport, a parallel canal and a third bridge over the Bosphorus, say they illustrate Mr Erdogan's "pharaonic" ambitions. The Marmaray project will upgrade existing suburban train lines to create a direct link joining the southern part of the city across the Bosphorus Strait.
Istanbul is one of the world's biggest cities, with about 16 million people. Some two million, according to the AFP news agency, cross the Bosphorus every day via just two bridges, causing severe traffic congestion.
The rail service will be capable of carrying 75,000 people per hour in either direction.
"While creating a transport axis between the east and west points of the city, I believe it will soothe the problem" of congestion, said Istanbul's mayor Kadir Topbas.
But critics of Prime Minister Erdogan have seen the tunnel as one of his grandiose construction projects for the city where he used to be mayor.
Detractors of his proposals, including a third airport, a parallel canal, a third bridge over the Bosphorus and a second tunnel, for cars, south of Marmaray, say they illustrate Mr Erdogan's "pharaonic" ambitions.
Authorities came under fire earlier this year when protesters opposed plans to redevelop a park in Istanbul. Widespread violence between anti-government demonstrators and security forces ensued.Authorities came under fire earlier this year when protesters opposed plans to redevelop a park in Istanbul. Widespread violence between anti-government demonstrators and security forces ensued.
The rail tunnel will not be fully operational after its official opening on Tuesday, the news agency AFP reports. The rail tunnel will not be fully operational after its official opening on Tuesday, AFP reports.
"The part that is in service is very limited. All that has been delayed until much later," said Tayfun Kahraman, president of the Istanbul Chamber of Urban Planners."The part that is in service is very limited. All that has been delayed until much later," said Tayfun Kahraman, president of the Istanbul Chamber of Urban Planners.
"We are wondering why this inauguration is happening so soon.""We are wondering why this inauguration is happening so soon."
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be present at the official opening in recognition of the Bank of Japan's status as the project's principal financial backer.Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will be present at the official opening in recognition of the Bank of Japan's status as the project's principal financial backer.
City officials say the tunnel will relieve pressure on the two existing bridges, as well as ease traffic congestion and pollution.