Ege Express
Ege Express used to run between Izmir and Eskisehir. Currently it’s running between Izmir and Balikesir. It’s not very clear if tourism train will stick to the same route or not.
Here’s the scorecard of Ege Express:
Excellent departure point
Izmir is an excellent departure point. There are direct flights to Ankara and Istanbul. City and around offers many options for accommodation, food and beach/sun.
Arrival point should change
Ege Express arrives at Balikesir. It’s not a good place to end the tour. Travelers have not many alternatives to reach to other cities.
One option is to extend the route to Eskisehir. Another is extend to Bandirma, which has ferry connection to Istanbul. A completely different route from Izmir to Pamukkale is another option.
Pergamon is on way
The most important attraction point on way from Izmir to Balikesir is Pergamon. 40 km from Soma Station. It certainly deserves to be visited.
As Erzurum has become a routine for Dogu Express passengers with “cag kebab”, Manisa or Akhisar may be good lunch stops for Ege Express.
Travel is short, excursion is long
The travel time is 5 hours. Bergama excursion and Akhisar stop will double the total time.
In case the route is extended to Bandirma, Eskisehir or Denizli, all should be reconsidered again.
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.