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Istanbul-Bucharest sleeper train to start

By on • ( 5 Comments )

The first service in 2023 of the overnight train service between Istanbul and Bucharest will start from Halkali today.

Istanbul-Bucharest train -also known as Bosphor Express- which runs only during summer as attached couchette wagons to Sofia Express will run its first service today (8th of June) from Halkali. The first train on return from Bucharest will be on 10th of June.

Travellers to Bucharest will get on coach num 479 at Sofia Express at Halkali. The couchette wagon owned by TCDD Tasimacilik has 10 compartments, each of which has 4 berths. The wagon will depart from Halkali at 20:00 together with Sofia Express, split from train and attached to Sofia-Bucharest train at Dimitrovgrad early in the morning and be at Bucharest at 17:08.

Passengers will cross Kapikule/Svilengrad and Ruse borders by train. Customs checks are done at station in Kapikule, on board in others.

Unfortunately there’s no dining car or cafeteria in the train, passengers must be prepared for that. Long waiting time at border crossings and Dimitrovgrad may also help.

The Istanbul-Bucharest-Istanbul service will continue until October. Last train is on 7th of October from Istanbul and 9th from Bucharet.

Istanbul – Bucharest train timetable and fares

Cover photo: Onur Uysal ©

Categories: Passenger

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5 replies »

  1. Bucharest is a wonderful surprise, and the Turkish train is very comfortable. What really reduces the joy of this journey is the very long wait in Dimitrovgrad. The conductor told me he sometimes bikes off to a neighboring Turkish-speaking village to buy raki while waiting for the connecting train. In general, the Bulgarian train system is not up to a European, or Turkish, standard.

  2. Would be a great trip and one we wanted to use last year for a trip to Romania for a wedding, however we live in Fethiye and the nearest international rail office is a trip in itself as you cannot book online or any other way but in person.
    We went by coach instead…..

  3. A night train,no dining or cafeteria and long border delays doesnt sound like a good trip to me unfortunately.

  5. Dear sir,This train need dining car i think very importent for traveler .