Travel Turkey: Two more routes added to “tourist-oriented train services”

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu has made a statement saying, “We are offering two brand new routes to our travel-loving citizens. The Ankara-Diyarbakır-Ankara Touristic Train will be operated between Ankara and Diyarbakır, and the Ankara-Tatvan-Ankara Touristic Train will be operated between Ankara and Tatvan.”

Minister Uraloğlu provided information about the tourist train services.

Reminding that the fairy tale journey of the Eastern Express started from the Historic Ankara Train Station on Monday, December 11, 2023, Uraloğlu said that the 2023-2024 winter season trips were completed with the train departing from Kars on March 10.

Minister Uraloğlu emphasized that while investments had been made in the railway sector for the past 22 years to expand high-speed and conventional railway lines, the quality of existing conventional lines had also been improved. He explained that tourist-oriented services had started to be operated on these lines.

Approximately 11,000 passengers traveled with the Eastern Express

Uraloğlu stressed that the train was not just a means of transportation but also offered significant opportunities, ranging from revitalizing tourism to developing various fields of art. In this regard, he recalled that the Touristic Eastern Express, aimed at tourism, had been put into service as an alternative to the Ankara-Kars route. Uraloğlu provided information about the seasonal trips, stating, “The Touristic Eastern Express made a total of 84 train trips, 42 in the direction of Ankara-Kars and 42 in the direction of Kars-Ankara. At the end of the period, a total of 11,611 passengers traveled on these trips.”

Drawing attention to the fact that the Touristic Eastern Express stopped for approximately three hours in Erzincan, Erzurum, İliç, Divriği, and Sivas, allowing passengers to explore Anatolia and bring vitality to the region’s economic, social, and cultural life, Uraloğlu also emphasized that this contributed to activating the potential of the region.

“Two new routes are coming for travelers”

Uraloğlu highlighted another piece of good news for travelers embarking on discovering Anatolia by train, saying, “We are offering two brand new routes to our travel-loving citizens. The Ankara-Diyarbakır-Ankara Touristic Train will be operated between Ankara and Diyarbakır, and the Ankara-Tatvan-Ankara Touristic Train will be operated between Ankara and Tatvan. The tourist trains will consist of a 9 bed-sleeper wagon and a dining car, providing travel comfort similar to home.”

Uraloğlu stated that passengers would have the opportunity to see natural, historical, and cultural values at stops along the route, saying:

“The Ankara-Diyarbakır-Ankara Touristic Train will depart from the capital on Friday, April 19, at 3:55 PM, and from Diyarbakır on Sunday, April 21, at 12:00 PM. The train will stop for tourism purposes for 3 hours in Malatya during the Ankara-Diyarbakır route and for 4 hours in Yolçatı during the Diyarbakır-Ankara route.

The Ankara-Tatvan-Ankara Touristic Train will depart from Ankara on Wednesday, April 17, at 3:55 PM, and from Tatvan on Friday, April 19, at 06:35 AM. The train will make tourism stops for 4 hours in Elazığ during the Ankara-Tatvan route, for 3 hours in Palu during the Tatvan-Ankara route, and for 4 hours in Elazığ and 3 hours in Kayseri. Our trains will operate on specified days and stop at certain centers until June. Ticket sales for these trains started this week.”