The train travels over two continents, 10 countries, two seas and 11,483 km (7,135 miles) of road in 12 days with 42 container-loaded wagons.
Despite huge investments in transportation infrastructure in recent years, traffic and transport top the agenda for both politicians and voters.
While some young people appreciate rapid transformation in the city, many others feel there's much more to do to preserve Istanbul's charm.
Istanbul's first automated metro system on the city's Anatolian side is serving close to 200,000 passengers a day, according to Metro Istanbul.
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