“Tren Tur Kart” (Train Tour Card)

TCDD sells its own range of rail passes, known as the “Tren Tur Kart” or “Train Tour Card”.

The Express Train Tour Card is valid for 30 days unlimited travel on all local and regional services and long-distance passenger services in normal seating accommodation.

The “Yatakli” (Sleeper) Train Tour Card also entitles you to free sleeper or couchette accommodation, in addition to the validity of the Express Train Tour Card.

The YHT Train Tour Card is also valid for travel in second class on YHT services, with different prices according to which YHT section is used, but is not valid in sleepers.

Train Tour Cards are not valid on any international services, nor are they valid on the Lake Van train ferry.

Adult prices are:

• Express Train Tour Card : TL210 (£60).
• YHT Train Tour Card : TL420 (£120). Valid at Ankara – Eskisehir and Ankara – Konya. Extension of YHT services through to Pendik has not been taken into account yet. Tickets are sold only at Eskisehir and Ankara stations.
• Sleeper Train Tour Card : TL550 (£158).

Compared to the Interrail one-country passes, the Train Tour Cards offer much better value for money. The biggest drawback is that they are very difficult to purchase. The TCDD website lists 85 stations across the country where these passes are supposed to be sold, but in reality very few of them hold the necessary ticket stock. Even major stations such as Istanbul Sirkeci and Izmir Alsancak are unable or unwilling to issue these tickets. (Izmir Basmane can issue them, but only during office hours). Indeed the list of 85 stations even includes places which don’t have any passenger services(in Turkish language only).

Next page: Pay as you go