The Hungarian national railway company MAV’s tourist train operating on the Paris–Istanbul route was scheduled to enter Turkey through Kapıkule on May 17th. The famous Simplon Orient Express is also scheduled to arrive in Istanbul on June 4.
In a written statement, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that both the MAV tourist train and the Simplon Orient Express have once again turned their routes toward Istanbul.
The train departing from Paris follows a route through Switzerland, Austria, Slovenia, Croatia, Serbia, and Bulgaria before arriving in Turkey. Minister Uraloğlu stated:
“The tourist train operated by Hungary’s national railway company MAV, running between Paris and Istanbul, will enter Turkey tonight through Kapıkule. On the Kapıkule–Istanbul leg, the train will be operated by TCDD Taşımacılık AŞ, and it will arrive at Istanbul’s Sirkeci Station the next day. The tourists, who will experience the city’s historical and cultural riches, will begin their return journey on May 19.”
Uraloğlu reminded that the train arrived in Istanbul last year on May 10 and October 20. This year, the 14-car train will make its first trip with 60 passengers, and it is scheduled to return to Turkey again on May 29.
Simplon Orient Express Returning to Turkey
Uraloğlu also mentioned that the Simplon Orient Express visited Turkey last year on June 5 and August 28, and added:
“Last year, 148 passengers traveled on this route. For the first journey this year, the 16-car train will carry 67 passengers from Paris to Istanbul and 37 passengers from Istanbul to Paris. One of the most beautiful destinations on the route, which spans many European countries, is Istanbul itself. Operating on the France–Germany–Austria–Hungary–Romania–Bulgaria–Turkey route, the Simplon Orient Express will arrive in Istanbul on June 4, with its return trip starting on June 6.”
