Turkey - General Information: Difference between revisions

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===Downloadable Timetable===
===Downloadable Timetable===
* [http://www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/trenler/Y%C3%BCksek%20H%C4%B1zl%C4%B1%20Tren/1 High Speed Trains] Ankara - Konya; Ankara - Pendik (Istanbul); Konya - Pendik.
* [http://www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/trenler/Y%C3%BCksek%20H%C4%B1zl%C4%B1%20Tren/1 High Speed Trains] Ankara - Konya; Ankara - Istanbul; Istanbul - Konya.
* [http://www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/trenler/Anahat%20Trenleri/2 Main Line Trains]
* [http://www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/trenler/Anahat%20Trenleri/2 Main Line Trains]
* Domestic: [https://ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/view/eybis/tnmGenel/bolgeselSeferler.jsf?menuId=https://ebilet.tcdd.gov.tr/view/eybis/tnmGenel/bolgeselSeferler.jsf Bölgesel Seferler] then select the desired line in the appropriate ''"Bölge"'' (Region).
* Domestic: [https://ebilet.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr/view/eybis/tnmGenel/bolgeselSeferler.jsf?menuId=https://ebilet.tcdd.gov.tr/view/eybis/tnmGenel/bolgeselSeferler.jsf Bölgesel Seferler] then select the desired line in the appropriate ''"Bölge"'' (Region).
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===Gauge===
===Gauge===
Standard
Standard. There appears to be some 1520 mm gauge track at Derince Liman (port) for the train ferry to Illichivs'k (Ukraine).


===Electrification===
===Electrification===
25kV 50Hz.
25kV 50Hz.


The following lines are electrified: All high speed lines; İstanbul to Kapıkule; İstanbul to Ankara; Ankara suburban lines; Adana/İskenderun - Toprakkale - Fevzipaşa - Malatya - Çetinkaya - Divriği, İzmir suburban lines (Aliağa - Menderes).
The following lines are electrified: All high speed lines; İstanbul - Kapıkule (Bulgarian border); İstanbul - Eskişehir - Ankara ('classic' line); Ankara suburban lines; Eskişehir - Kutahya - Tavşanli; İzmir - Balikesir - Bandirma; Adana/İskenderun - Toprakkale - Fevzipaşa - Malatya - Çetinkaya - Divriği, İzmir suburban lines (Aliağa - Cumaovasi).


The following lines are being electrified: Kayseri - Ulukisla - Yenice; Adana - Mersin.
The following lines are being electrified: Bandirma - Tavşanli; Kayseri - Boğazköprü - Ulukisla - Yenice; Adana - Mersin.


===Rule of the road===
===Rule of the road===
Right. However 95% of the network is single track.
Right. However 95% of the non high speed network is single track.


===Distances===
===Distances===
Line 100: Line 100:
==Recent and future changes==
==Recent and future changes==
===Future Changes===
===Future Changes===
Delivery of the rolling stock for the passenger service over the new (Kars -) Mezra - Akhalkalaki (- Marabda - Tbilisi (Georgia)) line will start only in March 2019, so the planned introduction date has been deferred from late 2018 to late 2019.
The Ankara - Baku train was expected to start running in August 2019, resulting in the opening to passengers of the (Kars -) Mezra - Karakale TCDD - Kartsakhi RK - Akhalkalaki line. However, timings, fares and customs arrangements have not yet been agreed. It may start running in late October but more likely not until the winter.


The 37.4 km İstanbul M11 express Metro line, connecting the Gayrettepe financial district and the new İstanbul Airport, is planned to be completed by the end of 2019. The 27 km İstanbul Airport – Halkali line is planned to be completed in 2020.
The 37.4 km İstanbul M11 express Metro line, connecting the Gayrettepe financial district and the new İstanbul Airport, is planned to be completed by the end of 2019. The 27 km İstanbul Airport – Halkali line is planned to be completed in 2020.
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(Sivas -) Kalin - Samsun may reopen in the spring of 2019.
(Sivas -) Kalin - Samsun may reopen in the spring of 2019.


The Marmaray line between Halkali on the European side and Gebze in Anatolia is due to open on 31 March 2019. This will provide the first through rail communication between Europe and Asiatic Turkey. İstanbul Haydarpaşa is expected to reopen around the same time, but could be delayed somewhat.
İstanbul Haydarpaşa was expected to reopen around the same time as the full Marmaray extension in March 2019, but has been delayed for an unknown period by the discovery of substantial archaeological remains.


Tenders have been submitted for refurbishment of Istanbul Sirkeci - Kazlıçeşme; work was expected to start soon as at July 2018. A short single track section will connect with the Marmaray system at Kazlıçeşme where a third platform will be built. The original alignment to Sirkeci will be restored and all former stations refurbished, although three of them will be relocated somewhat.
Invitations to tender were issued for rebuilding the line from Kazlicesme to Sirkeci but cancelled in August 2018 as the quotes were deemed too expensive, so there is no prospect of passenger services at the moment.


Istanbul Metro Line M7, on the European side, is under constuction. Kabatas-Besiktas - Mahumtbey (24.5 km) is due to open in 2018, followed by an 18.5 km extension to Esenyurt in 2020.
Istanbul Metro Line M7, on the European side, is under constuction. Kabatas-Besiktas - Mahumtbey (24.5 km) is due to open in 2018, followed by an 18.5 km extension to Esenyurt in 2020.
Line 127: Line 127:


===Recent Changes===
===Recent Changes===
====2019====
The overnight Göller Express between İzmir and Isparta started running on 25 October, thus reopening the 62km Karakuyu - Isparta branch to passengers.
The overnight Ankara Express between Ankara and İstanbul (Halkalı) restarted on 5 July 2019 having been discontinued on 1 February 2012. This caused the reopening to passengers of the 182 km 'classic' line between Eskişehir and Arifiye.
The Van - Tabriz (Iran) service was extended to and from Tehran with effect from 24 June, although this may have been merely a one-off experiment. Details are unclear as at late June.
Sivas station is closed from 1 April until 15 December 2019 owing to engineering work for the Ankara - Sivas high speed line. Through passenger services are diverted via the Hanli - Bostankaya freight-only line; see the Obscure Services page.
The Marmaray line between Halkali on the European side and Gebze in Anatolia opened on 13 March. This provides the first through rail communication between Europe and Asiatic Turkey. İstanbul Haydarpaşa terminus did not reopen at the same time.
====2018====
====2018====
The Van - Tabriz (Iran) service resumed on 18 June, having been suspended since July 2015.
The Van - Tabriz (Iran) service resumed on 18 June, having been suspended since July 2015.
Line 134: Line 145:
A diesel hauled test train ran between Halkalı and Kazlıçeşme, the present terminus of the Marmaray (Istanbul suburban) line on the European side, on 23 May.
A diesel hauled test train ran between Halkalı and Kazlıçeşme, the present terminus of the Marmaray (Istanbul suburban) line on the European side, on 23 May.


The Başkentray (Ankara suburban) service started on 13 April, reopening the 'classic' line through Ankara closed in 2016
The Başkentray (Ankara suburban) service started on 13 April, reopening the 'classic' line through Ankara closed in 2016. Ankara station was completely rebuilt and the former double track line widened as follows: Kayas - Ankara 4 tracks; Ankara - Behicbey 6 tracks; Behicbey - Sincan 5 tracks.


====2017====
====2017====
Line 160: Line 171:


On the Elazig - Muş (- Tatvan) line, a 27 km new alignment between Beyhan (km 113) and Hodan (km 140) opened in the second week of January; the old line was closed on 15 December 2014. A further alignment, at least 30 km long, is under construction further east, from east of Dik (km 173) to approximately km 208 (near Yenibasak). This is all part of the new 114 km Palu - Genc - Muş line, on which construction started in December 2011.
On the Elazig - Muş (- Tatvan) line, a 27 km new alignment between Beyhan (km 113) and Hodan (km 140) opened in the second week of January; the old line was closed on 15 December 2014. A further alignment, at least 30 km long, is under construction further east, from east of Dik (km 173) to approximately km 208 (near Yenibasak). This is all part of the new 114 km Palu - Genc - Muş line, on which construction started in December 2011.
====2014====
All traffic east of Karkamis (to Nusaybin) was withdrawn at the end of September as it was too dangerous to run trains on the line. The line is not expected to open until the Syrian conflict has ended.
The much delayed 511 km high speed line between Eskişehir and Pendik, east of İstanbul, was ceremonially opened on 25 July, with public services commencing the following day. This utilises the 15km section avoiding İzmit city centre (operational since August 1999). On 17 November TCDD announced that local services between Pendik and Arifiye would resume "before the end of 2014."
The very tortuous old alignment between Tecer and Kangal was expected to fall out of use but continued in use by one local mixed train each way until new trains were introduced via the new main line from 23 February. However, the local mixed train was reinstated from 18 March, reopening the old line to passenger traffic.


===Older Changes===
===Older Changes===
For details of older changes dating back to the year 2005 see [[Turkey - Older General Information]].
For details of older changes dating back to the year 2009 see [[Turkey - Older General Information]].


==Special Notes==
==Special Notes==

Revision as of 13:02, 26 October 2019

Country Name

Turkey (Türkiye)

National Railway System

National Railway Operator

Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları, which in translation means State Railways of the Republic of Turkey. The state railway is normally abbreviated as TCDD.

In 2016 TCDD's operating activities were transferred to a stand-alone business known as TCDD Taşımacılık AŞ

Language

Turkish. Modern Turkish script is based on Latin script. However, some special characters are used for language specific sounds. Turkish is the only official language although the Turkish government accepts the language rights of the Jewish, Greek and Armenian minorities. Kurdish, spoken by 6% of the population, is not recognised as an official language.

Outside the large cities and main tourist areas, knowledge of a foreign language is rare. German and English are the languages most likely to be encountered.

See Useful Words & Phrases for some useful words & phrases related to rail travel, which phrase books etc may well not give.

Currency

Turkish Pound (Türk Lira)

UIC code

numeric 75; alpha TR

Timetable

Journey Planner

  • Domestic travel: A journey planner is now available. It comes up in Turkish but the language can be switched to English. This is intended primarily as a ticket purchasing service, but fortunately functions as a journey planner as well. If no service is found for the journey & date specified a small pop-up window saying "Kriterlerinize Uygun Sefer Bulunmamaktadır" will appear near the top of the screen. If a service is found a further screen will appear. Click on the Train Name to bring up a pop-up window giving the full stopping pattern and timings of the train. Only direct trains are shown: potential passengers appear to be expected to work out their own possible connections.
  • Android: TCDD e-Bilet
  • IOS (IPhone): TCDD e-Bilet

Downloadable Timetable

Printed Timetable

There is no longer an official printed timetable in Turkey. Usually, train departures (and sometimes arrivals) are shown on station boards with the terminating station and the train name often being the only information. Intermediate timings etc. are frequently not given. Timetables change irregularly and without prior notice to the public but, as the timetable structure is fairly static, they at least give an indication of service frequency. The only exception is international traffic between İstanbul and Bulgaria, where timetables appear to change in line with European practice, to which BDŽ adheres. The standard symbols indicating days of operation (such as crossed hammers for Mondays to Saturdays) are not used; days are shown by abbreviations of the Turkish names.

Engineering Information

A very informative list and map of the times and expected duration of route closures in 2014 is available on the "Rail Turkey" website.

Maps

Printed Maps

  • "World Rail Atlas Vol. 8 The Middle East and Caucasus" by Neil Robinson (ISBN-10: 954-12-0128-8; ISBN-13: 978-954-12-0128-2)
  • European Railway Atlas by M.G. Ball (2008 onwards)

Web-based Maps

  • A useful basic map is available on the Seat61 website.
  • A very good detailed map is available on the TCDD website although it requires enlarging and is somewhat out of date.
  • Thorsten Büker's Map of Turkey. Although this remains on-line, the Büker maps are no longer being maintained. Last update August 2011.
  • A useful series of maps at various dates and enlargements are available on the Trains of Turkey website.
  • Maps and Plans - Turkey

Ticketing

The new Turkish Railways reservation system became operational on 1 February 2014. The system will book most long distance domestic trains within Turkey, including seats, couchettes and sleepers. You print out your reservation details and pick up the tickets in Turkey. The best guide on how to do this is on the Man in Seat 61 site > How to buy tickets. Note that sleepers and couchettes must be reserved in advance; they cannot be acquired on the train even if spare berths are available.

Sleeper and couchette tickets on the Vangölü Ekspresi (Ankara <> Tatvan) and Dogu Ekspresi (Ankara <> Kars) are in high demand and hence difficult to obtain. They become available on line 30 days in advance and should be booked as soon as possible as they can sell out almost immediately.

TCDD no longer offers a network ticket. Balkan Flexipass and Interrail tickets continue to be valid.

Infrastructure

Infrastructure Authority

Under new legislation passed in April 2013, TCDD is now the infrastructure manager.

Network Statement

TÜRKİYE CUMHURİYETİ DEVLET DEMİRYOLLARI İŞLETMESİ GENEL MÜDÜRLÜĞÜ only in Turkish

Gauge

Standard. There appears to be some 1520 mm gauge track at Derince Liman (port) for the train ferry to Illichivs'k (Ukraine).

Electrification

25kV 50Hz.

The following lines are electrified: All high speed lines; İstanbul - Kapıkule (Bulgarian border); İstanbul - Eskişehir - Ankara ('classic' line); Ankara suburban lines; Eskişehir - Kutahya - Tavşanli; İzmir - Balikesir - Bandirma; Adana/İskenderun - Toprakkale - Fevzipaşa - Malatya - Çetinkaya - Divriği, İzmir suburban lines (Aliağa - Cumaovasi).

The following lines are being electrified: Bandirma - Tavşanli; Kayseri - Boğazköprü - Ulukisla - Yenice; Adana - Mersin.

Rule of the road

Right. However 95% of the non high speed network is single track.

Distances

The detailed map listed in the Web-based Maps section gives distances for each sttaion.

Other Railways

None

Tourist Lines

None

Metro

Ankara, İstanbul, Izmir, Bursa, Adana.

Tram/LRT-systems

Antalya, Bursa, Eskişehir, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kocaeli (Izmit), Kayseri, Konya, Samsun.

All standard gauge except Eskişehir, which is metre gauge.

Recent and future changes

Future Changes

The Ankara - Baku train was expected to start running in August 2019, resulting in the opening to passengers of the (Kars -) Mezra - Karakale TCDD - Kartsakhi RK - Akhalkalaki line. However, timings, fares and customs arrangements have not yet been agreed. It may start running in late October but more likely not until the winter.

The 37.4 km İstanbul M11 express Metro line, connecting the Gayrettepe financial district and the new İstanbul Airport, is planned to be completed by the end of 2019. The 27 km İstanbul Airport – Halkali line is planned to be completed in 2020.

(Sivas -) Kalin - Samsun may reopen in the spring of 2019.

İstanbul Haydarpaşa was expected to reopen around the same time as the full Marmaray extension in March 2019, but has been delayed for an unknown period by the discovery of substantial archaeological remains.

Invitations to tender were issued for rebuilding the line from Kazlicesme to Sirkeci but cancelled in August 2018 as the quotes were deemed too expensive, so there is no prospect of passenger services at the moment.

Istanbul Metro Line M7, on the European side, is under constuction. Kabatas-Besiktas - Mahumtbey (24.5 km) is due to open in 2018, followed by an 18.5 km extension to Esenyurt in 2020.

The combined road/rail Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge, at the eastern end of the Bosphorus between Garipçe on the European side and Poyrazköy on the Asiatic side, was opened to road traffic on 26 August 2016. This provides a bypass round Istanbul for through traffic. However, although a double track railway line is provided, there is no railway on either side. No tender has even been invited yet for the Gebze Halkalı Hızlı Tren Hattı Güzergahı line between Halkalı on the European side and Gebze on the Asiatic side, so the target commissioning date of 2018 is completely unrealistic.

Tracklaying started on the 253 km Yerkoy - Sivas section of the 405 km high-speed line between Ankara and Sivas in March 2018. A contract for construction of the Kirikkale - Yerkoy section was awarded in January 2016.

Plans for a 606 km high speed line from Izmir to Ankara have been approved. The line will pass though Afyon and meet the Ankara - Istanbul line near Polatlı. It was originally planned to be finished by 2013 but works are now expected to start in 2019.

Plans for a Mustafakemalpaşa (off the Balikesir-Bandirma line) – Bursa – Bilecik link, a conventional 160/200 km/h passenger/freight line, have been revived and this project will probably be put out for tender.

A new 17 km east-west cutoff is under construction between Bahce (Osmaniye province) and Nurdag (Gaziantep province) in southern Turkey. This will avoid the junction of Fevzipasa. It includes the longest tunnel in Turkey (10 km) on which boring has started, expected to be complete in 2019; trains may start in 2023. Fevzipasa will lose its importance and indeed might well close altogether as its only use would be for trains to Syria.

A number of lines have no passenger trains although services may resume in the future:

  • Narli - Gaziantep: understood to be closed for engineering work. The Toros Ekspresi is not running at present.
  • Irmak - Çankiri - Karabük: engineering work is ongoing while the line is used for freight. However, it is unlikely to reopen to passenger traffic.

Recent Changes

2019

The overnight Göller Express between İzmir and Isparta started running on 25 October, thus reopening the 62km Karakuyu - Isparta branch to passengers.

The overnight Ankara Express between Ankara and İstanbul (Halkalı) restarted on 5 July 2019 having been discontinued on 1 February 2012. This caused the reopening to passengers of the 182 km 'classic' line between Eskişehir and Arifiye.

The Van - Tabriz (Iran) service was extended to and from Tehran with effect from 24 June, although this may have been merely a one-off experiment. Details are unclear as at late June.

Sivas station is closed from 1 April until 15 December 2019 owing to engineering work for the Ankara - Sivas high speed line. Through passenger services are diverted via the Hanli - Bostankaya freight-only line; see the Obscure Services page.

The Marmaray line between Halkali on the European side and Gebze in Anatolia opened on 13 March. This provides the first through rail communication between Europe and Asiatic Turkey. İstanbul Haydarpaşa terminus did not reopen at the same time.

2018

The Van - Tabriz (Iran) service resumed on 18 June, having been suspended since July 2015.

Following reopening of the 'classic' line through Ankara, services to Kars, Kurtalan and Tatvan started running from Ankara on 4 June. The service to Izmir resumed on 15 November. However, the Çukurova express to Adana did not resume; the Erciyes express between Kayseri and Adana, which had replaced it, continued running.

A diesel hauled test train ran between Halkalı and Kazlıçeşme, the present terminus of the Marmaray (Istanbul suburban) line on the European side, on 23 May.

The Başkentray (Ankara suburban) service started on 13 April, reopening the 'classic' line through Ankara closed in 2016. Ankara station was completely rebuilt and the former double track line widened as follows: Kayas - Ankara 4 tracks; Ankara - Behicbey 6 tracks; Behicbey - Sincan 5 tracks.

2017

The Usküdar - Yamanevler section of Istanbul Metro line M5 (its first driverless metro line) opened on 16 December. Yamanevler - Cekmekoy is expected to open in mid-2018.

The new 105 km (Kars -) Mezra - Akhalkalaki (- Marabda - Tbilisi (Georgia)) line was ceremonially opened on 30 October 2017. Freight services started the following day and passenger services will follow.

Surface works on the Asian and European sides of Istanbul’s Marmaray suburban corridor reportedly resumed at the end of January following an agreement between lead contractor OHL and the government. Upgrading of the approach routes to create a 77 km high-capacity corridor between Halkali on the European side and Gebze in Anatolia has been subject to considerable delay. The revised completion date for the work is now 31 December 2018.

2016

The Kütahya - Balikesir line was reopened on 1 September after a lengthy closure for engineering work.

All services on the 'classic' line through Ankara, between Irmak (60 km east of Ankara) and Eskişehir, ceased from 11 July for engineering works on the Başkentray project, the Ankara suburban service. High speed services to/from the west were not affected.

On 15 February the recently reinstated services between Çerkezköy and Kapikule / Uzunköprü were suspended. However, they were reinstated between Kapikule and Halkali on 25 July, thus reopening Çerkezköy - Halkali.

2015

On 20 October the main line west of Istanbul was reopened between Çerkezköy and Kapikule (Bulgarian border) and between Pehlivanköy and Uzunköprü (Greek border). The line between Çerkezköy and Kazlıçeşme (end of the Marmaray line) remained without a passenger service.

All services to and from Iran (the Trans-Asya Ekspresi (Ankara - Tehran) and the Van - Tabriz train) were suspended in July 2015.

Sivas to Samsun closed for a period of 2 years from April for rebuilding.

The Afyon A. Çetinkaya - Karakuyu - Goncali (- Izmir) line reopened to traffic on 19 January after being closed for approximately five years for engineering work. This included the introduction of services over the Goncali avoiding curve, constructed between 2007 and 2010.

On the Elazig - Muş (- Tatvan) line, a 27 km new alignment between Beyhan (km 113) and Hodan (km 140) opened in the second week of January; the old line was closed on 15 December 2014. A further alignment, at least 30 km long, is under construction further east, from east of Dik (km 173) to approximately km 208 (near Yenibasak). This is all part of the new 114 km Palu - Genc - Muş line, on which construction started in December 2011.

Older Changes

For details of older changes dating back to the year 2009 see Turkey - Older General Information.

Special Notes

Many trains run every day of the week but some Ekspresi (Express) services run only every other day. Suburban services are usually subject to a different weekend schedule.

Trains can be very crowded. For all main line express trains, especially during weekends and during the school holiday period July - September, reservations are recommended. For express services on the main routes, each station served has a fixed allocation of tickets and no more are normally sold once this is exhausted. Reserved seats are not marked as such.

Punctuality of long distance trains is often low, and with the exception of a few dedicated connecting services, trains would usually not wait for possible late running feeder services. The operational practice appears to be that a train - once running late - has a lower priority than other trains still on time.

Electronic visas must be obtained in advance by means of the e-Visa Application system.

Turkey is relatively unusual in operating an internal train ferry service (freight only). The train ferry across the Bosphorus between the Istanbul stations of Sirkeci and Haydarpasa was withdrawn when rail access to these termini ceased. A ferry now operates between Tekirdag, about 100 km west of Istanbul and served by a branch from Muratli, and Derince, about 60 km south east of Istanbul, near Gebze. It has 5 rail tracks with a combined length of 800 m and can carry 58 normal length wagons. The voyage takes 8 hours, and loading and unloading each take 2 hours. This provides the only rail access between Europe and Asiatic Turkey.

Useful Words & Phrases

A few useful words & phrases related to rail travel, as phrase books etc may well not give these:

2+2 Pullman and 2+1 Pullman = seats with either 2+2 or 2+1 seating density across the width of the car.

YATAKLI = sleeping-car. On the plan, üst = upper berth, alt = lower berth. If you book 1 person, you get a whole 2-berth compartment.

Örtülü kuşetli = 4-berth couchettes. If you book 1 person, you get 1 berth in a shared compartment.

YHT = high speed train.

Tam = adult rate

çocuk = child rate = children under 12. Under 8s go free, 12 & over pay the youth fare.

genç = youth fare for anyone under 26 = 20% discount.

60-64 yaş = senior fare, 50% discount for anyone 60-64.

65 yaş = senior fare, 50% discount for anyone over 65.

Satış Sözleşmesini Okudum ve Kabul Ediyorum = "I have read & agree to the terms & conditions."

See also