There are several railway projects to be commissioned in 2022.
Opening of a couple of projects were postponed in 2021. These projects and some other are all expected to be commisisoned in 2022. Here are them:
Karaman HST in January
Konya-Karaman HST service is announced to start in early January, which was postponed a couple of times since last summer. When services starts, some of the Ankara-Konya and Istanbul-Konya HSTs are expected to continue to Karaman. Currently, regional trains and HST connected buses are running between Konya and Karaman.
Question marks about Sivas HST
Ankara Sivas high speed line was announced to start service in September 2021, but opening was postponed a few days ago before opening. New date has not been announced yet, but high speed train is expected to open this year.
Construction continues in Istanbul Ankara line
One of three sections of Istanbul Ankara high speed line was recently completed and engineering works continue in two others. When these two completed, two progress will be seen: Trains will run with high speed all through Gebze and Ankara which will decrease travel time by half an hour. And new Siemens sets will be able to be used in this line.
No opening in Izmir and Bursa
Engineering works continue in Izmir and Bursa line. Both projects are splitted into a couple of phases, some of which have high completion rates about ground works. However, laying of rails, electrification and signalization are hard steps to be completed, and have not started yet. No opening on these lines.
Cappadocia Express to launch in 2022
The first private domestic train service, Cappadocia Express was announced in first quarter of 2021. Target for start of service was February 2022. The train will be operated by a new operator, with its own loco, coaches and team. The train is expected to start in 2022.
New touristic lines on way
Touristic Dogu Express had restarted on 15th of December. This new train, developed in cooperation with Ministry of Tourism, became succesful and inspired new routes, some of which were announced. If demand for Touristic Dogu Express continues, new routes may start in 2022.
International passenger trains depend on pandemic
The Istanbul-Sofia (Sofia Express) and Ankara-Tehran (Transasia Express) trains that were suspended due to Covid-19 and Ankara-Baku train that was getting prepared for start are waiting pandemic to be overcome both in Turkey and in related countries. New variant which is spreading very fast in whole world may postpone the hopes of a start in 2022.
Categories: Railway Events
Rail Turkey En 
Thanks for your great page, and for continuous updates. Have a happy new train-traveling year!
Is there any new information about Sofia-Istanbul train? Will it be avaiable this year?
No news. I guess it’ll wait for pandemic to be overcome in both countries.
Hi, I read that it should start again on April 25!!
https://www.raillynews.com/2022/04/Sofia-Istanbul-passenger-train-services-start-from-25-April/
The source is a statement of BDZ manager. I could not confirm here in Turkey. 9th oh May is told here unofficially.
Hello, Thank you for this website. I am preparing a trip from Istanbul to Bucharest in april. Do you know if news on the bosphorus express will come ? (due to pandemic ?)
,what happen to Ankara – Tehran (Transasia Express) also Ankara – Baku hpefully they can resume back in mid 2022.
Transasia may start soon
Hey! Any news about Transasia? Will it start in July 2022 ?
There’s only an unconfirmed news that Van-Tehran train service will start in May.
Hi Onur,
do you know from where this unofficial news come from? Any webpage?
Thanks for your hind and spend a nice day!
Julia
Sehrivangazetesi.com. A local online news.
Hi,
the page on the Samsun-Sivas train (https://railturkey.org/travel/trains/regional/samsunsivas/) says it will start again after the pandemic. Do you have any guess when (passenger) trains will start again?
Thank you for your very useful website
Thank you for your kind words. Unfortunately there’s no announcement nor preparations about that train, though pandemic restrictions all ended.
Hi Onur
Can you tell me, if there are the Kapikule – Halkali and the Uzuköprü – Halkali-Train in 2022?
Could’nt find them on the TCDD-Ticket-Page.
Me and two friends want to travel on June, 7th from Edirne to Istanbul. Maybe you can help us.
Thanks a lot.
Florian
Tickets are on sale 15 days before departure. You need to wait a bit for 7th of June.
When will bosphorus express start bucharest
Yes, it started, as of 3rd of June. It’ll run during summer.
Hi Onur. We’re a family of four in Fethiye until October 22 at which point we want to get (near) to Georgia preferably via train. At first glance of your website I am thinking we could get to Kars via Ankara still via the express train. Just need to work out how to get to Ankara from Fethiye!
Hi Colin. The shortest route is Fethiye-Denizli by bus, Denizli-Eskisehir by Pamukkale Express, Eskisehir-Ankara by HST.
Thank you Onur. Hugely appreciate that advice.
Good morning,
I am the publisher of the EURASIA rail map which is used by many rail transport companies.
Among others, the Turkish company PASIFIK EURASIA.
The map is being updated. please let me know when the HSL/200km/h/ Kapikule – Halkali line will be open.
Still under construction, not this year for sure.
Hello, do you know if/when the Turistik Dogu express will start this year? What is the easiest way to buy tickets as it is always sold out. Thank you
I guess it’ll start in autumn, but there’s no official announcement about that. There are only two ways: TCDDT’s online website or attending a private tour.
Hello Onur,
I’ll be visiting Izmir region in mid-October this year. I was looking for the most recent time table for regional trains departing from Denizli to Izmir, also wanted to book my seat online but had no luck so far. The only trains I could find were the Express Trains in the middle of the night. Do I still need to visit the station to buy the tickets, or are they just completely sold out? Any idea?
Hi. Denizli-Izmir trains are available online, but only 6 days prior to departure. So you just need to wait for some time. You can check by entering a sooner date.