In 1875, engineers opened a funicular beneath Istanbul’s steep waterfront slope; the Tünel still operates more than 150 years later

Istanbul's Tünel, which has been in operation since 1875, stands as a testament to enduring urban transit systems. This historic funicular, crafted by a skilled French engineer, was inspired by local transport challenges. While London's Metropolitan Railway beat it by a few years, Tünel is the oldest underground line still functioning in Europe. Unlike New York's subway, which emerged much later, Tünel exemplifies successful urban planning and timeless infrastructure usefulness.