The city has two completely separate heritage tram systems, one on the European side (the Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway, aka.

But as happened in most cities around the world, tram service in Istanbul began to close in 1956, and ended completely in 1966.

After closing the tram network in the mid-1960s, the people of Istanbul thought that transport within the city would move faster than before, but this proved false some years later.

The uncontrolled increase of petrol vehicles such as buses, taxis, and private cars started choking the streets of Istanbul.

Turkey suffered many of the problems of developing countries, including pollution, traffic jams, migration, and rapid population increase.

[citation needed] From the early 1970s, these problems increased and by the mid-1980s Istanbulians realized that lack of control of motor vehicles and the closure of the tram network were great mistakes.

[citation needed] Looking at examples in other cities around the world (e.g. Lima and Buenos Aires), the authorities planned to bring trams back to Istanbul.

Instead they planned an experimental heritage tramway, mindful of the lower installation cost, mainly as tourist attraction, and as a test system to see how trams would be accepted by the younger generations in Istanbul.

[citation needed] The original Istanbul tram network was almost completely destroyed, including depots, termini, electric power stations, etc., except for some of the rolling stock which had been preserved in transport museums.

[citation needed] Around 1990, the Istiklal Caddesi became a pedestrian zone, and the tram was restored and revived in 1990, in the form of the Taksim-Tünel Nostalgia Tramway.

The European side T2 tramline follows an alignment of Istanbul's previous historic tram network, which was served by Routes 10, 11, 12, 15, 16, 17.

The length of the European side Taksim-Tünel (T2) tramline is 1.6 kilometers (0.99 mi), with 5 stops, Taksim, Odakule, Galatasaray, Ağa Cami and Tünel (Şişhane).

Many medium trees were planted in both the footpath and road and old-fashioned street lamps and curved chairs were also installed.

As the area is a popular entertainment and nightlife district, the driver must frequently ring the bell to clear the way of pedestrians, especially during the peak tourist season.