Istanbul’s first “Nostalgic“ Tram: Taksim-Tünel line T5

Sights and sounds of Istanbul. Antique trams make their way through crowds of Sunday evening promenaders along Istiklal Caddesi. Istanbul’s old trams closed in 1966. A “nostalgic“ tramway using a few surviving restored cars was introduced in 1990 as part of improvements to the area between Taksim and Tünel, and has proved to be a major tourist attraction. The old Istanbul trams had a curious sloped cowling above the fenders, in a futile attempt to deter people taking a free ride. Today, people taking a free lift on the back of the trams seem part of the nostalgic experience. Istanbul has a second preserved tramway at Kadiköy and three modern lines. Filmed June 2010