The Republic of Türkiye, Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, General Directorate of Infrastructure Investments is undertaking the construction of the “Northern Public Transport Light Rail Transit Line Project” within the districts of Körfez, Derince, İzmit, and Kartepe in Kocaeli Province.

The project route will extend from the Atalar area along the D-100 Highway, passing through the districts of Körfez, Derince, and İzmit, and will reach Cengiz Topel Airport.
This corridor provides access to major residential zones, district centers, and locations of strategic importance. Accordingly, it is anticipated that the Light Rail Transit (LRT) line will make significant contributions to the city’s socio-economic structure and urban mobility.

Project Route

The project route lies within the administrative boundaries of the following neighborhoods:

Körfez District: Atalar Neighborhood, Hacı Osman Neighborhood, Mimar Sinan Neighborhood, Yeni Yalı Neighborhood, Barbaros Neighborhood, Fatih Neighborhood, Kuzey Neighborhood;
Derince District: İbni Sina Neighborhood, Sırrıpaşa Neighborhood, Çenedağ Neighborhood, Çınarlı Neighborhood;
İzmit District: Şirintepe Neighborhood, Kuruçeşme Fatih Neighborhood, Cumhuriyet Neighborhood, Yeni Yalı Neighborhood, Serdar Neighborhood, Yenidoğan Neighborhood, Kozluk Neighborhood, Akçakoca Neighborhood, Hacı Hasan Neighborhood, Veliahmet Neighborhood, Çukurbağ Neighborhood, Karabaş Neighborhood, Cedit Neighborhood, Kadıköy Neighborhood, 28 Haziran Neighborhood, Erenler Neighborhood, Bekirdere Neighborhood, Tavşantepe Neighborhood, Yahya Kaptan Neighborhood, Alikahya Fatih Neighborhood, Dumlupınar Neighborhood, Mehmetalipaşa Neighborhood;
Kartepe District: Ertuğrul Gazi Neighborhood, Ataevler Neighborhood, Uzunçiftlik Neighborhood, Emekevler Neighborhood, and İstasyon Neighborhoods.

Integration with the Kocaeli Transportation Master Plan (KUAP)

Within the scope of the Kocaeli Transportation Master Plan (KUAP), the proposed Northern Light Rail Transit Line is intended to be integrated with existing and planned public transportation lines in Kocaeli. The goal is to enhance urban mobility by ensuring a faster, more efficient, safer, and more comfortable transportation system, thereby contributing to the improvement of urban functions and socio-economic development levels.

Master Plan Background and Planning Horizon

A Transportation Master Plan for Kocaeli—whose population exceeds 2 million—was prepared during 2010–2012 with a target year of 2025. Due to significant changes in zoning plans and the revision of the projection target year to 2035, updates to the Transportation Master Plan were undertaken in 2014, taking the 2035 target year into account.

For the 2035 planning horizon, one of the major backbone lines proposed is the Northern Rail System Line, featuring a route length of 35.35 km and 24 stations (Atalar–Cengiz Topel LRT Line).
Implementation phases for the Northern LRT Line were planned as follows:

• Up to 2020: Köseköy KSS – Dubaiport Rail System Line
• Up to 2025: Atalar – Cengiz Topel Rail System Line (East–West Extensions)

By Presidential Decision No. 7724, published in the Official Gazette dated 17 October 2023 and numbered 32342, it was decided that the Project be undertaken by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure.