Toros Express
Though Toros Express has not managed to attract travellers, the route is prefered by private train tours many times in the past.
Here’s the scorecard of Toros Express:
Departure point is good
Toros Express is departing from Adana. Adana has strong transport connections. Accommodation is sufficient. Adana is in the middle of touristic cities like Gaziantep, Hatay and Mersin.
Arrival point is perfect
Toros Express arrives at Konya. With Mevlana Museum, Karatay Medresa, Seb-i Arus ceremonies, tourism develops fast in Konya. There’s direct flight to Istanbul, HSTs to Istanbul, Eskisehir and Ankara.
Catalhoyuk will be excellent excursion
9000 years old neolothic city Catalhoyuk is right next to Adana-Konya railway, very close to Cumra Station. The ruins are well-designed, deserves more visitors.
Daytime travel is a great advantage
Unlike the trains above, Toros Express runs during daytime which gives chance to take amazing photos of Taurus Mountains. Varda Bridge is on way, deserves a short stop. The return train should also depart early in the morning.
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.