Kurtalan Express
Kurtalan Express is being changed to a perfect tour by a couple of travel companies. The beauty of the route has not been realized yet.
Diyarbakir-Batman region provides a perfect excursion by bus completing the train tour.
Here’s the scorecard of Kurtalan 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 is not known
Kurtalan Express arrives at Kurtalan, not very well known town. Tourism train’s arrival point may be changed as either Diyarbakir or Batman. Diyarbakir has many alternative transportation solutions, 6 flights to Istanbul, 3 to Ankara everyday.
Excursion at arrival will be unforgettable
A stop at Nemrut will be good for this train.
But the connected excursion which will make this tour unique will be Hasankeyf-Mardin-Midyat-Dara. Diyarbakir will also attract gourmets.
Timetable should change
Currently train departs at noon and arrives at Malatya at midnight. For Nemrut visit, departure from Ankara should be later. By this way, the stretch between Malatya and Diyarbakir will be during 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.