As touristic version restarts today, Dogu Express train service is doubled. Then which to choose?
Touristic Dogu Express restarts service today after a long suspension due to Covid-19. Touristic version was started as the classical one became so popular. Two trains may be a bit confusing for many travellers, so let’s see the differences between them:
Classic calls at every station
Classic Dogu Express is one of the main transport modal for many cities and towns on Ankara-Kayseri-Sivas-Erzincan-Erzurum-Kars route, calling at 52 stations. Train is frequently being used for transports between two neighbour towns. This means there’s a lot of alternative to get on or off the train. Some little stations may provide extra ordinary opportunities for photographers. On the other hand, this many calls and getting on/off traffic means interruption especially while sleeping, especially if you are travelling on a seat, not in a compartment.
Touristic Dogu Express is calling less, at 25 stations. Since there’s no standart coach in train with seats, and full length fare is charged, there’s almost no traveller traffic on way.
Couchettes on classic, sleepers on touristic
Classic Dogu Express has standart coaches with seats and couchettes. Though train seats are pretty comfortable especially compared to buses, since lights are always on and travellers get on/off in almost every station, a overnight travel on seat may be a bit uncomfortable. On the other hand, couchettes are quite good choice especially for big groups travelling together, even better than sleepers in some cases. Since touristic version started, sleepers do not exist in Classic Dogu Express.
If you want to have a romantic trip with a partner in a private cabin with two beds, the only choice is now Touristic Dogu Express. Sleepers have a small table, a sink, some space for luggages and coats.
City excursions with touristic
Though Dogu Express is passing by several attraction points, classic train is calling at stations only for a short time only for taking new passengers or technical reasons. No time to see around.
Touristic Dogu Express differs mainly on this subject. Train gives 3-hours-long breaks at Ilic and Erzurum in east bound and at Erzincan, Divrigi and Sivas in west bound. This enables to see city, have something to eat or attend the tours. In each stop, the tour company organizes excursions according to train timetable.
Touristic one departs 2 per week
Classic Dogu Express departs every day from Ankara and Kars. Travel time is 26 hours.
Touristic Dogu Express departs two time a week, on Wednesday and Friday from Ankara, on Friday and Sunday from Kars. Travel time of this train is around 32 hours.
Classic is much cheaper
One of the main difference between two trains is the train fare. You can buy a Ankara-Kars seat ticket for 68 TL (€4) or a place in couchette for 68 TL (€6).
The price for a sleeper cabin at Touristic Dogu Express is 1300 TL, no matter if you travel alone or two. This great difference is because of several reasons. Sleepers carry half of couchettes in one wagon. A longer travel with long stops increase the cost a bit. But the main reason is that, touristic train is not subsidized but classic is.
Cover photo: Onur Uysal ©
Categories: Passenger
Rail Turkey En 
Hi,
Please advice if the passangers traveling in Touristic Dogu Express for 1300 TL per cabin include sightseeing tours during 3-hours-long breaks at Ilic and Erzurum. If not, please send us rates and terms for booking cabin and city tours . We want to travel in April 2022.
Kind Regards
Adriana
Hi Adriana. First of all we are not a service provider nor an agency. So you should send your request to TCDDT. For your information, tours are not included, being organized by other companies, where you can buy in train.
Hola, por favor aclare si dan comida, de lo contrario, le doy 2 horas para que lo averigue.
Hello, is there a possibility to buy seats for the Dogu Express (Tourist) with a guarantee? Since they sell out in minutes, planning a long trip in advance is very uncertain. Greetings, Dominik
Hi Dominik. Unfortunately, there’s not a good solution. You either buy via internet in first minutes of sale, or in last 24 hrs (since most of the cancellations are by then) or via tourism agencies any time.
Thanks a lot!
Can you please offer the website address to purchase tickets? I have tried searching but have come up with no results.
Thank you
Only TCDDT’s Eybis. No other alternative.
https://ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/
https://ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/ is not working , I tried app also
Hi there, do you know whether the touristic Dogu express is available all year around? I don’t see any options for April and may. Thank you!
Hi. Yes it’s available all year long, but tickets are on sale 30 days prior to departure.
hi there – we have been advised that 1) there is no “touristic” Dogu Express running in April (ie with the sleeper cabins) and the best we can get is a couchette, and that. 2) all the tickets are being bought up by groups who are then selling them on. We even have a Turkish travel agent who specialises in rail travel looking for us. Please can you confirm when the “sleeper” train will resume. Thanks.
Info is correct. No Touristic train, so no sleeper. TCDDT has not announced anything, neither about suspension nor tesume.
Please can you advise – am unable to find the sleeper cabin – only a couchette. Thank you.
No Touristic, so no sleeper in system for April.
Thank you for such a quick reply! Okay – we will keep our couchettes. Thanks again 🙂
Hi, looking ahead to early July will there be sleeper cabins available, as in the touristic express? thanks
No official statement about Touristic one. Will inform in Rail Turkey when there’s any.
HI
I’m trying to book a Dogu express ticket on the app but it says ” there is no trip in accordance witb your request” no matter what date I put.
Within 30 days, I can.
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ANy information useful
Hello, is the Touristic Dogu going in June 2022. I look for hours but can not find anything.
The normal one only has seats left, nothing to sleep :-((
Is it possible to book 2 seats and sleep in this way?
Thanks and many greetings! Annetta
Touristic is suspended. I see some free berhs at couchettes of Classic Dogu Express, where you can sleep. Note that rooms are gender specific if you don’t buy all berths of a compartment.
Thanks! I cannot book a sleeping place, where you see it? Or how is it call?
It’s called “Ortulu Kusetli”. You can understand from the reservation style, in four-seats groups.
No, I can not book this. Or where you find free place
Von meinem iPhone gesendet
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Goodmorning! sorry, but maybe you can help me to find it! I only see 4 wagon on the website of TCDD. I can only book Pulman seat.
i want to travel 4 or 5 June. Thanks.
Hello! I have two question please
1) what time of day are the tickets released?
2) how do I book a bicycle onto the Dogu classic?
thank you! and excited to visit Turkey 🙂
For Dogu, it is 30 days. No need to book for bicycle. If there’s enough space at luggage section/wagon, you can put it there.