The Karaköy Tunnel, located in the heart of Turkey's largest metropolis, Istanbul, celebrated its 144th anniversary on Thursday.
The tunnel opened on Jan. 17, 1875, just hours after the London Underground.
At a ceremony, Ahmet Bağış, the head of Istanbul's electricity, tramway and tunnel management, hailed the anniversary.
Haydar Ali Yıldız, the ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party's mayoral candidate for Istanbul's Beyoğlu district, called Istanbul a "lucky city," and added: "Binali Yıldırım, former minister of transport and communications and former prime minister, is the AK Party's candidate for greater Istanbul mayor."
With Yıldırım at the helm, he said, Istanbul's transportation would thrive.
An exhibit about the historical subway will be open until the end of January.
Karaköy station, formerly known as Galata and Pera, connects the districts of Karaköy and Beyoğlu and is considered one of the oldest subterranean urban railway stations in the world.
