Mavi Boncuk |
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The idea of the electric streetcar emerged just before World War I. After the establishment of electric power plants and railway system, the first electric streetcar trip started on Jan. 25, 1914. The first trip was from Karakoy to Eminonu. Istanbul had a wide electric streetcar network in 1915. The number of motorized cars reached 141 and trailers 69 in 1923. The number of lines reached 12, and then 56 in 1956, in parallel with the increasing population of Istanbul.
The number of passengers was high for the trips between Tunel-Sisli, Taksim-Sirkeci and Karakoy-Besiktas. The streetcar fare, which was expensive during the first years, went down after the establishment of the Republic. The shortest distance cost 2.75 kurus (the smallest unit of money in the Ottoman realm), which was the second class price, and 5.25 kurus, which was the first class price -- $1 was equal to 200 kurus, one kg of bread was 10 kurus, of meat 40 kurus, of cheese 100 kurus and of beans 25 kurus back then.
Special railway car for the elite
The streetcar had at most two railway cars. Those in the front were red and the ones in back were green. The red railway cars were for first class passengers. Generally the urban elite got in this railway car. The second class car, which was cheaper than first class, was preferred by people with modest incomes. The chairs in second class cars were wooden whereas the ones in first class were leather and soft. It was sometimes argued that this arrangement discriminated between the people. But the reactions were not considered and the same system continued until the trips were stopped. Streetcar loses esteem. SOURCE
The idea of the electric streetcar emerged just before World War I. After the establishment of electric power plants and railway system, the first electric streetcar trip started on Jan. 25, 1914. The first trip was from Karakoy to Eminonu. Istanbul had a wide electric streetcar network in 1915. The number of motorized cars reached 141 and trailers 69 in 1923. The number of lines reached 12, and then 56 in 1956, in parallel with the increasing population of Istanbul.
The number of passengers was high for the trips between Tunel-Sisli, Taksim-Sirkeci and Karakoy-Besiktas. The streetcar fare, which was expensive during the first years, went down after the establishment of the Republic. The shortest distance cost 2.75 kurus (the smallest unit of money in the Ottoman realm), which was the second class price, and 5.25 kurus, which was the first class price -- $1 was equal to 200 kurus, one kg of bread was 10 kurus, of meat 40 kurus, of cheese 100 kurus and of beans 25 kurus back then.
Special railway car for the elite
The streetcar had at most two railway cars. Those in the front were red and the ones in back were green. The red railway cars were for first class passengers. Generally the urban elite got in this railway car. The second class car, which was cheaper than first class, was preferred by people with modest incomes. The chairs in second class cars were wooden whereas the ones in first class were leather and soft. It was sometimes argued that this arrangement discriminated between the people. But the reactions were not considered and the same system continued until the trips were stopped. Streetcar loses esteem. SOURCE