-SOUTH KOREAN FIRM OFFERS BEST BID IN MARMARAY SUBWAY CAR TENDER

-SOUTH KOREAN FIRM OFFERS BEST BID IN MARMARAY SUBWAY CAR TENDER

ISTANBUL (A.A) - 16.10.2008 - South Korean Rotem has offered 585 million euros and become the best bidder in a Turkish tender to procure 440 subway cars that are planned to ply on a 77-kilometer line in Marmaray project, a "dream" urban rail commuter project to connect Asia to Europe beneath the Istanbul Strait.
The 77-kilometer railway line will connect Halkali on the European side of the city with suburban Gebze on the Asian side, sharply reducing travel time and helping relieve the city of the growing traffic congestion. The rail system will carry 150,000 passengers per hour on both sides and link with the municipal light-rapid rail system and subway.
The tender to procure 440 cars was the last procurement of the project, officials said.
The last tubes of Istanbul's 60-meter deep underwater tunnel were connected last week.