ISTANBUL, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Türkiye is reimaging two of Istanbul's most storied train stations -- Haydarpasa on the Asian side and Sirkeci on the European side, through an ambitious project aimed at revitalizing them as cultural and archaeological hubs.
Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy unveiled the project, which blends archaeology, heritage and art, at a recent launch event, noting that the two stations were "two magnificent heritage sites entrusted to us."
"We approach our work with this awareness, aiming not only to restore the buildings themselves but to preserve these areas as integral parts of Istanbul's industrial heritage," he said.
Both stations are expected to reopen in stages, with the first phase projected around 2026.
The project builds on remarkable archaeological discoveries beneath Haydarpasa Station, built in 1908 on Istanbul's Asian shore as the starting point of the Istanbul-Baghdad Railway. During the 2018 restoration works, archaeologists unearthed the ancient city of Chalcedon.
Excavations revealed traces of life from the 7th century BC to the Ottoman period, including a 3rd-century BC Hellenistic apse, a Byzantine Church and a Byzantine boulevard, offering rare insights into Istanbul's earliest urban history.
Birol Incecikoz, director general of Cultural Heritage and Museums, told Xinhua: "Haydarpasa turned out to be far more than a rail terminal -- beneath it lies an entire ancient city. Through the archaeopark, visitors will be able to walk through thousands of years of Istanbul's history."
An open-air archaeopark and Istanbul's first archaeology museum on the Asian side will be built to showcase thousands of artifacts. "Unused train wagons will also be converted into a manuscript restoration and conservation center, allowing experts to repair centuries-old Ottoman works in full view of visitors," Incecikoz added.
Across the Bosporus, Sirkeci Station, completed in 1872 as the terminus of the legendary Orient Express, is undergoing meticulous restoration with seismic strengthening and archaeological supervision. Once completed, it will host a rail heritage museum, exhibition halls and performance venues.
Incecikoz highlighted Sirkeci's historic significance, noting that it had been the starting point for countless journeys to Europe -- including the waves of Turkish workers heading to Germany in the 1960s -- and served as a symbol of both farewell and reunion in Türkiye's social memory.
A migration museum will also be established at the station to commemorate this pivotal role in Turkish-European migration history, according to Incecikoz.
"Transportation will continue, and the Orient Express will still arrive at Sirkeci," he said, adding that Haydarpasa will remain the gateway linking Istanbul to Baghdad, serving as a living symbol of the revived Silk Road rail corridor connecting Asia and Europe. ■
