During the war, Gavand went to the United Kingdom to set the company up there. He formed the Metropolitan Railway of Constantinople to construct the line with the starting date being on 1 September 1871. Construction began on July 30, 1871 but was delayed significantly by conflicts between landowners and the company.[2] The tunnel was not completed until December 1874 [1] and was finally opened for service on January 17, 1875.[1] It is quite remarkable that Gavand was absent at the opening ceremony.[3]