Ankara Awards Design Contract For Kızılay-Dikmen Metro And Funicular

Türkiye, September 2026 — Ankara municipality’s transport directorate EGO has awarded a contract to prepare the final designs for the planned M5 Kızılay-Dikmen metro line and the Kuğulu Park–Atakule–Turan Güneş funicular. The design work represents a further step toward expanding rail-based public transport in the Turkish capital.

The M5 metro is planned to extend for approximately 15.45km, with stations including Esat, Kuğulu Park, Dikmen Vadisi, Çetin Emeç, Öveçler and Dikmen before continuing toward Oran Şehri. EGO's current project information lists the corridor as a proposed 11-station alignment connecting Kızılay with the southern districts of Ankara.

The associated funicular is planned to provide a connection from Kuğulu Park through Atakule to Turan Güneş, supporting interchange with the metro network. Earlier project planning described the funicular as approximately 3km long with three stations, while the M5 corridor was initially planned at around 13km with 10 stations. Subsequent project development has resulted in an updated alignment and length.

The projects form part of Ankara’s broader programme to extend its urban rail system beyond the existing network. Other planned extensions include the Koru–Yaşamkent and Koru–Bağlıca connections on the M2 line and the Şehitler–Forum extension of the M4 line.

For the rail sector, the design contract is an important project-development stage before construction procurement and implementation. The final engineering work will establish the technical basis for the metro and funicular infrastructure, while the planned interchange at Kuğulu Park could strengthen connectivity between central Ankara and the city’s southern districts.

Source: Railway Gazette International