Turkish Sultan's dream comes true after 153 years

The Marmaray rail link will be just a part of the tunnel whose tube like structure will facilitate the movement of cars and trucks as well. Commuting between the two parts of Istanbul will become easier and tourists can better explore the city.

Turkish President Abdullah Gül and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, as well as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Romanian Prime Minister Victor Ponta, Somali President Hasan Sheikh Mahmud and a number of foreign civil servants were present during the inauguration of the historic rail link. Japanese Prime Minister Abe called on everyone present to envision a rail link connecting Tokyo with Istanbul and running through to London - as a new Silk Route from Europe to Asia.