Intercity train services start on Monday on 12 routes.
Some of the intercity train services, which were suspended more than a year ago, will restart on 12th of July, Monday. The train services that will start are as follows:
| Ankara Express | Istanbul-Izmit-Bilecik-Eskisehir-Ankara |
| Dogu Express | Ankara-Kirikkale-Kayseri-Sivas-Erzincan-Erzurum-Kars |
| Izmir Mavi | Ankara-Eskisehir-Kutahya-Balikesir-Manisa-Izmir |
| Konya Mavi | Izmir-Manisa-Usak-Afyon-Konya |
| Van Golu Express | Ankara- Kirikkale-Kayseri-Sivas-Malatya-Elazig-Mus-Tatvan |
| Kurtalan Express | Ankara- Kirikkale-Kayseri-Sivas-Malatya-Diyarbakir-Batman-Kurtalan |
| 4 Eylul Mavi | Ankara- Kirikkale-Kayseri-Sivas-Malatya |
| Firat Express | Adana-Osmaniye-Malatya-Elazig |
| Ege Express | Eskisehir-Kutahya-Balikesir-Manisa-Izmir |
| Goller Express | Izmir-Aydin-Denizli-Burdur-Isparta |
| Erciyes Express | Adana-Nigde-Kayseri |
| Pamukkale Express | Eskisehir-Kutahya-Afyon-Denizli |
The biggest surprise among all is 4 Eylul Mavi. The train is again an overnight service between Ankara and Malatya with couchette wagons.
The tickets are on sale for all services until end of this month, covering the regional fest. The ticket prices are not changed, which were last updated in late 2019.
While 12 new services start, remaining 6 intercity train services seem to wait a bit more. These trains are:
- Touristic Dogu Express, giving service between Ankara and Kars allowing 2-3 hours long city excursions at some stations on way.
- 6 Eylul, 17 Eylul and Karesi expresses which give service on Izmir-Balikesir-Bandirma line.
- Toros Express which was giving service on Adana-Konya line, where engineering works continue to upgrade the line.
- Bogazici Express which run for some time between Arifiye and Ankara.
Cover photo: Onur Uysal ©
Categories: Passenger
Rail Turkey En 
Thank you. Have you any idea when the Toros Express will start?
Unfortunately no.
Thank you very much for this update. I do not see the Çukurova express Ankara-Adana in the lists, not in the restarting list and not in the missing list, I guess it is also not starting yet ?
Thanks for all your excellent work,
From Belgium
İskender
You are welcome. It’s because Cukurova was not in the “operating trains” list before pandemic. It was suspnded long before.
Wonderful to know especially the overnight
Trains. Pity we can’t get there yet. All the best to you and thank you. From Cape Town
Bravo!! I anticipated this so much and finally phew!! May i know is there any tourist travel train pass by weekly or monthly? Thank you. Regards, Jane
Hi Jane. Unfortunately tourist pass are not being sold for long time. The current passes are only for passegers using single route frequently within a month.
Is there any train from Istanbul to Karabuk(Safraubolu)? If no, what is the other alternative to reach Karabuk from Istanbul. Appreciate your help. Thank you and regards. Jane
Hi Jane. Unfortunately there is no train service from Istanbul to Karabuk even with interchange. There are several bus services instead. Travel time is around 6:30 hrs. Another option might be travelling by HST to Ankara and taking bus to Safranbolu (4:30+3:00 hrs).