We’d like to help you for your questions about train travel.
Please keep in mind that we are not a call center working for TCDD Tasimacilik or any other operator, and we cannot help you for ticketing or reservation problems.
You can write your question at the bottom of this page, in “questions/comments” box.
Rail Turkey En 
Hi, can you help! We are hoping to travel from KAYSERI to ANKARA on 10 August, departing 00.29. We cannot find the train on the TCDD website. In fact, there are no trains scheduled after 1 August. Do you know if these trains are running at all?
Thank you.
Yes you have right, but I don’t know why. Maybe timetable changes are planned.
Do you know the schedule (times, days of the week) for the upcoming Ankara to Baku / Baku to Ankara route, or when the schedule will be available?
Not yet. Will publish at Rail Turkey as soon as it’s announced.
Hi, I’m going to travel from Istanbul to Sofia by night train. Is it possible to carry a bike on this train ?
Unfortunately no..
Hello there,
We’re trying to reserve a high speed train from Istanbul Pendik to Konya for next Sunday 21st from Spain but are having a good deal of difficulty, with the strange website.
Should we wait until in Istanbul and organise it with the hotel reception?
It’s not that much friendly, but any specific problem?? Trains are very full in general. And when a train is full, it’s not displayed.
Do I need my passport to buy a ticket Istambul-Ankara?
No. But ensure that your name is written correct. And keep passport with you during train travel.
why do I need to keep my passport with me when traveling by eastern express train?
Carrying ID is a general rule anytime for anyone in Turkey
I mean is it required to enter the train or buy the ticket?
Yes, ID can be requested during ticket control. In HSTs, check is before getting in.
Hi, I’m going to travel from Denizli to Selcuk in the morning. Where can I leave my luggage?? Because I wanna go to Ephesus and gonna comeback take the train to Izmir in the evening
Tcdd tries to extend safe boxes. So check first at station. If not, there’s one safe room at main bus station, walking distance to train station.
What is a ‘PNR’ number?
Reservation number, as in flights. You need that number for change/refund.
Merhaba
I lost a yellow bag in the train coming from Eskisehir to Istanbul the last 26 july. How can I found it , how can I contact the station . Thank you.
If it’s found, it should be at the last station in Istanbul (Halkali or Sogutlucesme depending on your train). I’d suggest directly going there. Call center (444 82 33) helps in English, if you are in Turkey. WhatsApp (+90 (507) 321 82 33) is the best solution if you are out of Turkey.
Thank you Onur for your answer. the whatsapp number does not work. I tried when I was in Turkey but nothing.
Sorry to hear that. Hope you didn’t lose much.
Would like to travel during the winter/spring months from Turkey to Bucharest. I understand that one train line works only in Summer until early Autumn. Any ideas ? Thanks
To Sofia. Then to Bucharest.
I am trying to by a train ticket from denizli to selçuk following week but i am not able from the principal webpage, it seems there is never a date available. Where can i buy a ticket in advanced?
Thank u!
Online ticket not available. see more at https://railturkey.org/travel/trains/regional/izmirdenizli/
Could you tell me which bus I need to get to the Aydin train station from the Aydin bus station please? Thank you.
Can I buy IstambulKard in Halkali train station with credit card? Or can I change money there because I´m coming from Sofia by train? Thanks
No change office, but you can by Istanbulcard by cc there.
Hello
My child is 6 years old, but I want to buy a seat for him. May I buy discounted ticket for 7-12 years old child?
Thank you
Yes sure.
Will there be no problem during ticket check because child is actually younger than the ticket?
Well, I’m not a Tcdd staff. However, it would be weird if anyone objects. The rule for 0-6 is free unless a seat is requested. So if seat requested, it should be same with 6-12.
Thank you. Yes this is obvious, but to be sure can I confirm this somehow from some official staff?
Then you’d need to do that via Tcddt’s contact addresses. What can I say?
Salam, I booked my return train tickets via tcdd website. Payment has gone through but i havent recieved any email or reservation number. How can i contact the company via phone from UK. Please help?
Check whatsapp number. You can see that number in any of the train pages.
Hello. I have the exact same problem. Have you figured it out, Mr. Shahzad? I cannot find a WhatsApp number either.
Hello, I would like to travel by train from Ankara to Tehran. If the train from Ankara to Tatvan is late, will the next train (Van to Tehran) wait?
If you buy Ankara Tehran ticket (Transasia Express) there’s no such risk. If you go first with Vangolu to Tatvan, you’ll be there long before next train to Tehran.
Checking in again… Do you know the schedule (times, days of the week) for the upcoming Ankara to Baku / Baku to Ankara route, or when the schedule will be available?
Not yet.
Are there more than 1 railwaystation in Konya. When I try to order a ticket from Adana to Konya, it is only possible to order when I write Konya. When I write Konya YHT I am denied.
There’s only one yet, new hst station is under construction.
I want to take the Bosphor Express from Istanbul to Bucharest, would the Balkan Flexipass be valid on this route?
Yes, sure.. See details here: https://railturkey.org/travel/balkan-flexipass/
Will Sirkeci Station ever be open to trains again? Is there any estimate on when it will open?
It will. There’s already a renewal project. But stopped. So when is not known.
Thank you so much Onur for all the work you do for this site
You’re very welcome..
Can we take bikes on the train from Istanbul to Sofia? If so, is it extra charge? Do I understand that we buy tickets at Sirkesi but depart from another station? How do we get there? We will habe lots of stuff and bikes.
Unfortunately, bikes not accepted, if there’s no luggage car. Check at station again. You can buy ticket at Sirkeci or Halkali. Marmaray suburban trains run in between. Also there’s free shuttle.
do trains permit dog on board? we are planning to go from ankara to tehran
permitted with some terms. pls check https://railturkey.org/travel/train-and-travel-details/2/
How to take bus from İstanbul new airport to holiday inn old city?
Take bus to Sultanahmet. https://railturkey.org/2018/09/03/how-to-get-to-new-airport-of-istanbul/
I shall go from Ankara to Kars with Dogu Eks in a sleeping car. Are there blankets and sheets in the sleeping dome.
Yes. Pillow as well.
Thank you for the fine service, and a very quick answer. I look forward to go by train in Turkey.
Enjoy
Dogu touristtrain is the food free or do we have to pay for all the food?
Have to pay
Thanks you very much for a quick answer.
And then one more question. The train stop in Ilic, Erzincan and Erzurum. How many minutes will the train stop each place.
About 3 hrs in each.
Hi I unfortunately have to abandon plans for my return train trip on the Dogu express and then the Bosfor from Istanbul to Bucharest. I have tickets and reservations for both, for two weeks time. I’m now in Georgia- so unable to go to a Turkish station. How can I get a refund – one of the tickets was bought online and the other is physical and bought at Ankare Gar? Thanks
Train will arrive in Halkali station. I remember one time when I came (Sofia-Istanbul Halkali) most of the train passengers when we arrived in Halkali, went to a bus which I think went to Marmaray station? Is it included in price to get to that bus?
Included. But Halkali is a Marmaray station as well. You don’t have to get in bus.
How much time before departure time of TCDD Tasimacilik, we should reach station
Is there a hattle bus from Halkali to Sirkedji
Yes. Marmaray is a better and faster way though.
Can you tell me whether bosphorusexpress to bucharest Romania is still working? I mean will it go to bucharest tonight at 21:40?
Thanks
hello i would like to change the ticket is that possible?
Yes. View your ticket at “eybis” using your pnr and make changes.
Hi, we want to travel from ankara to tbilissi. Is there a direct train between ankara and tbilissi, or it’s only possible to travel to kars (bcs the connection is still closed?). And it’s still possible to travel in sleeping cars with the classic dogu express?
Thx for your help,br simon
No train sevice further Kars. Tur-Geo connection works only for freight. Classic Dogu has only seats and couchettes, not sleepers.
We want to take the Eastern Express from Ankara to Kars in May of this year. Can we book the tickets online, we will need a sleeper. It seems difficult to find any site where I can actually book this. Thank you.
Hello.Can I take a shower on Ankara express?
No. No shower
Thank you very much for your quick answer.
Günaydin,
First thank you very much for your excellent website, it is very clear and I check it a lot and recommend it to everybody that asks me about trains in Turkey (which happens quite a lot actually).
In May I am going to Iran again and I had planned to take the train from Dimitrovgrad to Halkalı, then to Ankara and then the Transasya ekspres, all in one day. The train from Dimitrovgrad arrives in Halkalı at 0510 but it is usually late, so the train from Halkalı 0600 to Ankara I might miss. The next one leaves from Pendik and arrives in Ankara at 1415, only 10 minutes before the train to Teheran leaves, which would be ok if the train is punctual, and it usually is more or less, but do you know if they would stop the Transasya for a few minutes in case it’s not? I mean: is there some rule for connection between this kind of trains? I know that the other way round, the YHT never waits normal ekspresler… (I found out the hard way haha)
Can’t wait until Sirkeci and Haydarpaşa reopen… It would make everything a lot easier.
Teşeküler,
İskender Gomme
Hi Iskender. Many thanks for kind words. First of all, train is stopped due to covit-19. Check before starting trip. Transasia will not wait for HST, and 10 min delay will not be surprising. Between ramp of HST and Transasia, you may need 5+ minutes. And unfortunately, HSTs are too full to buy in last minute.
Cevabı için teşekürler. I canceled my visit and hope to go end of september or october… (Here we are confined completely anyway)
Hi ,I’m looking to send my cargo to Iran , the consingment is on truck now on bendik custom , how I’m able to book a cargo wagon.
Hi, I am looking to travel from Bucharest to Sofia with the Bosphor Express, is it possible to buy a ticket in Bucharest? And where can I find the prices in advance?
I know I need my passport to travel on inter-city trains in Turkey. With the corona-virus are there any oher requirements; for example do I need an HES code.
Please note I am a UK national and resident in the UK
Thank you.
Yes, you’ll need hes code for any public travel. Nothing else. Just note that many trains are not running yet.
Onur,
Thank you very much for your help. I’ll try and work it all out now
Dennis,
You’re very welcome. You either take it via apps or sms. I’d suggest apps “hayat eve sigar”
Hi. Thanks for your information. I wanna buy tickets for Ankara – Kars, and is imposible to do it. Do you know if its ready? Where can i looking for this information?
They are not running yet, due to pandemi. We’ll announce restart at Rail Turkey for sure.
When is estimated to reopen Touristic Dogu express railway? we are planning to visit Turkey from 8-23 of August? Thanks in advance
No official announcement yet. I don’t think it’ll start in August. Only HSTs are working.
HI I WANT TO TRAVELL FROM ISTANBUL TO KONYA MY SON AGE IS 6 YEARS OLD NOT 7 MAY I NEED BUY A TICKET OR NOT HIS DATE OF BIRTH IS 03 02 2014
Train is free for 0-6 years old kids if you don’t request separate seat.
Hello,
Does any train from Sofia to Istanbul go or is it still suspended?
Unfortunately not yet
Do you know if any busses go there from Sofia?
Metro bus company used to run. I heard that border traffic has recently restarted due yo change in regulation a few days ago.
Can you travel with pet dog on the trains? Can you take extra luggage on the train? We are moving from Canada to Turkey for work. So we are planning to fly to Istanbul then take the train to Ankara. We will have 2 to 3 large suite cases per person.
Thanks
I need to travel from Batumi to Istanbul. The web said the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars line was opening Aug 2019 but I cant find anything. Did it open and where can I buy a ticket? Thanks
No, not opened. All train services in Turkey suspended except high speed due to covid.
I have to go to Istanbul from Batumi also, but to get to the train in Kars I cant find any buses once I cross the Turkish border if I take a bus from Batumi to border whatever bus that is.
Unfortunately there’s no train from Kars neither, due to pandemic.
Thanks. saved me from a really bad tri.
Glad to hear that. Follow left banner announcement at Rail Turkey. We’ll surely announce the start.
Plz tell me what is the fare of Dogu train from Ankara to kars for two person
Pls check our Dogu Express page. https://railturkey.org/travel/trains/mainline/dogu/
Note that train is not running due to covid-19.
Hi there
i will like to buy a ticket to Ankara tomorrow by Train high speed
Could you please help me ?
Follow online ticket link.
Hello,
Has there been any indication of when trains will resume after COVID disruptions?
Thanks
Unfortunately not..
HELLO,
WHICH STATION IS THE LARGEST ONE IN TURKEY?
I think it is Boomerang Carpet
hi are trains resuming now to go from adana to mersin and which rail statiomis near to Senbayrak city hotel
No, all except HSTs are suspended.
What is hst thx
High speed train
Good afternoon! Could you help with with the question below? I am a foreign citizen and I have foreign ID (international passport) which has expired on date. I have to travel from Istanbul to Ankara to the embassy to change the passport. Can I use HST system and just buy ticket using my HES code? Thank you in advance!
Yes, you can buy ticket.