Vangolu Express
One other tourism train is another popular overnight train: Vangolu Express.
Currently, it’s running twice a week in each direction between Ankara and Tatvan, small town at Van Lake. Sleepers are sold out very quickly on this route.
There are many attractions on route of this train.
Here’s the scorecard of Vangolu Express:
Departure point is good
Dogu Express is departing from Ankara. Ankara is in the popular touristic destinations of Turkey. But it has very strong transport connections with many regions in Turkey. Accommodation and shopping in city is very good.
Arrival point should be strengthened
Vangolu Express arrives at Tatvan. This town may fail to meet the demand. However, on the other side of Van Lake, there’s Van city. Attractions around Tatvan are Ahlat and Akhdamar Island/Church.
Best attraction: Nemrut
A stop on way for Nemrut will make train unique. If timetable is arranged well, it may be possible to watch sunrise at Nemrut.
A stop at Elazig is a good opportunity to see Harput Castle.
Timetable should change
Currently train departs at noon and arrives at Malatya at midnight. For Nemrut visit, departure from Ankara should be later. In case a longer excursion including Erzincan, train may last two nights and Ahlat/Akhdamar excursion may start in new day.
Categories: Passenger
Rail Turkey En 
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT ALL OVERNIGHT SLEEPERS LEAVE FROM HYDARPASA STATION.
ISTANBUL TO IZMIR
ISTANBUL TO KONYA AND ANTALYA IF POSSIBLE
ISTANBUL TO ADANA SLEEPER VIA ANKARA
i have travelled on the Adana to Ankara overnight – Ankara to Kars – istanbul to Denizli and all were fantastic. This was a couple of years ago. The route in to Istanbul – Hydarpasa through the mountains
early morning in summer was spectacular, with water gushing down the streams and men on tall ladders picking cherries in the orchards. Very special and has me hooked on all sleeper train trips.
But we should not forget that the old, traditional Dogu will loose its sleeper cars, which is not a good evolution.
Haydarpaşa station site is lost to Kalkhedon historic site during restoration works. Closest possibilities are Harem, Kadıköy and Söğütlüçeşme.
Yes Petra is absolutely correct. Essential that trains depart from the magnificent, historic, Hydarpasa station. Also information available in English as well as Turkish would be incredibly helpful to many travellers.
I shall go by Dogu express for tourist from Ankara to Kars. What about food. Do we get food free or do we have to buy.
You have to buy at dining car or bring. Or you can eat at stops.
I realise that diesel power must be provided to provide electricity to power the dining cars etc but it would be wonderful if a steam locomotive could be added at some stage between Ankara and Kars.
How about some connection to northern turkey. Would love to travel to Trabzon, Rize and Artvin to stay in highlands. Seems to that there is not much options to reach them rather than bus and minibuses.
No rail connection to that region unfortunately.