Turkey - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services: Difference between revisions

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| ''Pamukkale Ekspresi''  
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| 08:00 Denizli - Hasanbey
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Revision as of 21:44, 9 March 2016

Introduction

TCDD has not published a timetable for a number of years and this list is based on the public timetables contained in the TCDD website as at January 2016. Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information. In the absence of timetable table numbers, each line's TCDD Bölge (administrative/operational region) is given, namely: 1 Istanbul (Europe and Asia); 2 Ankara; 3 Izmir; 4 Sivas; 5 Malatya; 6 Adana and 7 Afyon.

The TCDD website is often not updated to represent the actual situation. Trains may remain on the site when they have been cancelled, curtailed or amended. Prospective passengers should check carefully any notes (which are in Turkish only) relating to trains. In rural areas and on branch lines TCDD may still operate mixed trains (karma). These trains are subject to alteration without prior notice, frequently on an ad-hoc basis, and arrival times may vary substantially from booked times. No reliance should be placed on the timings or days of operation of these trains, unless checked locally.

Travelling in the South All traffic has ceased on lines which cross or run close to the Syrian border, even though the website may show trains.

Obscure services

Polatli avoiding line: Km.456+029 HZ – Km 5+691 HZ

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112C4 not shown) TR16/1

This west <==> south curve south west of Polatli connects the Eskişehir (İstanbul) and Konya high speed lines. It is used by high speed services (Yüksek Hizli Tren) between İstanbul (Pendik) and Konya.

(Ankara –) Sincan – Polatli – Eskişehir

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112B4 - 112C4) TR16/2

There are two largely parallel lines between Sincan and Eskişehir, the original single track main line and the Ankara - Eskişehir high speed line, officially opened on 13 March 2009. This line is being extended into Ankara as at January 2016. The only trains using the original main line are the Ankara - İzmir İzmir Mavi Treni and local Sincan - Polatli trains.

Ankara: Gazi Mah. – Marşandiz carriage sidings

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112C4, not shown) TR16/3

Marşandiz carriage sidings run parallel to and well to the north of Marşandiz station. One local train runs each way between Kirikkale and Marşandiz carriage sidings.

22571 Kirikkale - 08:02 Ankara - Marşandiz carriage sidings
22576 17:22 Marşandiz carriage sidings - Kirikkale

Alayunt triangle

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B4) TR16/4

All trains between Eskişehir and Afyon run via Kütahya, using the north <=> west and west <=> south curves of the triangle and calling at Alayunt Müselles when traversing the latter curve. The north <=> south curve thus has no service. Click on the thumbnail in the next entry for a full size map.

Kütahya loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B4 not shown) TR16/5

In order to avoid reversing, locomotive hauled trains between Eskişehir and Afyon use the loop line which diverges to the north, east of Kütahya, enabling them to approach the station from the west. This route appears to be used by trains always prior to arrival at Kütahya, but the compilers would appreciate confirmation of this. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


71322 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 11:17 Alayunt - Denizli
21130 Izmir Mavi Ankara - 23:41 Alayunt - Izmir Alsancak
31129 Izmir Mavi Izmir Alsancak - 03:49 Alayunt Müselles - Ankara
71321 Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 14:16 Alayunt Müselles - Eskişehir

The following trains are worked by units or railbuses, so may reverse at Kütahya and not use the loop. The compilers would appreciate any information on this.

72405 Afyon A. Çetinkaya - 08:42 Alayunt Müselles - Eskişehir
72406 Eskişehir - 19:26 Alayunt - Afyon A. Çetinkaya

Karakuyu loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3 not shown) TR16/6

The line from Afyon divides into a balloon loop north of Karakuyu, giving two connections into Karakuyu station. One loop runs into the east end and can be used by trains between Afyon and Izmir via Goncali in order to avoid reversal. The other runs into the west end and can be used by trains between Afyon and Isparta to avoid reversal; however there are no longer passenger services to Isparta. Based on their timings, the following trains must use the east end loop:

71322 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 14:58 Ekinova - Denizli
71321 Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 10:28 Karakuyu - Eskişehir

Afyon loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3 not shown) TR16/7

Afyon A. Çetinkaya station is equipped with a loop line which leaves the station in a south-easterly direction and turns to the north-east, joining the Eskişehir line. This enables trains between Eskişehir and either of the routes to Izmir (via Uşak or via Karakuyu) to avoid reversal. The loop appears to be used on departure from Afyon.

Pamukkale Ekspresi Hasanbey - 13:26 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Denizli
21130 Izmir Mavi Ankara - 02:05 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Izmir Alsancak
31129 Izmir Mavi Izmir Alsancak - 02:21 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Ankara
Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 12:33 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Hasanbey

Goncali avoiding line: Bozkurt – Goncali Müselles

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3 not shown) TR16/8

This curve, constructed between 2007 and 2010, opened to traffic on 19 January 2015. It is used by the following train. Note that the service in the opposite direction reverses at Goncalı and does not use the curve.

71321 Pamukkale Ekspresi 08:00 Denizli - Eskişehir

Boğazköprü avoiding line: Boğazköprü (Irmak Yönü BM) – Boğazköprü (Ulukışla Yönü BM)

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112C3) TR16/9

This west <==> south curve connects the Ankara line with the Niğde/Ulukişla line. Boğazköprü Müselles halt is located on this curve. Note that the trains do NOT call at Kayseri: times shown at Kayseri are for a connecting minibus provided between Kayseri and Boğazköprü Müselles.

21206 Çukurova-Ekspresi Marşandiz (Banliyö) - Ankara - 01:17 Fehimli - Adana
61205 Çukurova-Ekspresi Mersin - 00:39 Incesu - Ankara - Marşandiz (Banliyö)

(Sivas –) Tecer (Km 649+750 Start of New Line) – Kangal – Temürün Köyü (Km 700+670 End of New Line) (– Çetinkaya)

[Bölge 4] (ERA 113A4) TR16/10

A cut-off between Tecer and Kangal, incorporating the 5367 m Deliktaş tunnel, the longest in Turkey, opened probably in September 2012. The very tortuous old alignment is still used by the following karma (mixed) trains, which were withdrawn on 23 February 2014 on the introduction of a new DMU service but reinstated on 18 March 2014:

42801 Divriği - 08:25 Çetinkaya - Sivas
42802 16:45 Sivas - Divriği

Elazığ – Tatvan Gar – Tatvan İskele [Tatvan Pier]

[Bölge 5] (ERA 113B3 - 113B4) TR16/11

Owing to the security situation, all services east of Elazığ have been suspended. It is not known when they will resume.

The Trans-Asya Ekspresi (Ankara - Tehran) operated once a week and was the only train serving Tatvan İskele. Only the through baggage car was carried on the Tatvan - Van train ferry; through passengers had to join the ferry on foot. A local mixed Bölgesel Treni (regional train) operated three times a week between Elazığ and Tatvan Gar [Tatvan station], not Tatvan Pier.

Tatvan Gar is a terminus and trains probably propelled from there to Tatvan İskele. The line between Tatvan Gar and Tatvan İskele describes three 180 degree curves. A connection links the two sides of the middle curve, forming a balloon loop. If a train has propelled to Tatvan İskele, the return working may well use this connection and reverse at its western end in order to reverse the formation to be the right way round for departure from Tatvan Gar. It seems that operation is designed to avoid running round at Tatvan Gar and Tatvan İskele if possible. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


Van İskele [Van Pier] – Van Gar – Kapıköy – state border (– Razi IRIR)

[Bölge 5] (ERA 113C4) TR16/12

Owing to the security situation, all services have been suspended by the Iranian Railways. It is not known when they will resume.

The Trans-Asya Ekspresi (Ankara - Tehran) operated once a week. Only the through baggage car was carried on the Tatvan - Van train ferry; through passengers had to join the ferry on foot. A train operated once a week between Tabriz and Van Gar [Van station], not Van Pier.

Other sparse services

The following lines have few trains (relative to service levels generally in this country) - fewer than three trains each way on at least three days a week - or do not run each weekday.

Çerkezköy - Kapikule / Uzunköprü Bölge 1 (53A2, ERA 111A2 - 111C1) Owing to engineering work, no trains are running east of Çerkezköy as at January 2016. Services were suspended west of Çerkezköy in February 2016
Kapıkule - Svilengrad (Bulgaria) Bölge 1 (53A2, ERA 111A2)
Irmak - Çankiri - Karabük - Filyos (- Zonguldak) Bölge 2 (ERA 112C4) Trains are running only between Filyos and Zonguldakas at January 2016 owing to signalling work.
Boğazköprü - Niğde - Ulukışla Bölge 2 (ERA 112C3) 2 trains each way: the Erciyes Ekspresi (Kayseri - Adana) and Çukurova Mavi (Ankara - Adana), which uses TR16/9 and does not call at Boğazköprü station itself.
Balıkesir - Bandirma Şehir Bölge 3 (ERA 112B4) Trains connect at Bandirma for high speed ferries to İstanbul Yenikapı.
Uşak - Afyon A.Çetinkaya Bölge 7 (ERA 112B3)
Afyon A. Çetinkaya - Karakuyu - Goncali Bölge 7 (ERA 112B3) The Pamukkale Ekspresi runs daily between Hasanbey, Eskişehir and Denizli
Kalın - Amasya and Havza - Samsun Bölge 4 (ERA 113A4) All services suspended from 28/09/15 until probably December 2017 for modernization works
Divriği - Erzincan - Erzurum - Kars - Akyaka Bölge 4 (ERA 113A4 - 113C4) The Dogu Ekspresi runs daily between Ankara and Kars. Two local trains run daily between Kars and Akyaka.
Çetinkaya - Malatya Bölge 5 (ERA 113A3 - ERA 113A4) The 4 Eylül Mavi Treni runs daily between Ankara and Malatya. A daily train between Ankara and Malatya continues 5 days a week as the Güney-Ekspresi to/from Kurtalan and 2 days a week as the Vangölü Ekspresi to/from Elazig (cut back from Tatvan).
Yolcati - Diyarbakır - Kurtalan Bölge 5 (ERA 113B3) The Güney-Ekspresi runs 5 days a week between Ankara and Kurtalan. In addition there are two trains a day in each direction Diyarbakır - Batman.
Malatya - Fevzipasa Bölge 5 (ERA 113A3) The Firat Ekspresi runs daily between Elaziğ and Adana.
Fevzipaşa – İslahiye Bölge 6 (ERA 113A3)

Deletions since previous edition

TR15/0 Muratli - Tekirdag The 'Jewels of Persia' tour no longer runs and the 'Balkan Explorer' uses an unidentified station on the outskirts of Istanbul
TR15/1 Eskişehir avoiding line Only high speed trains now operate between Eskişehir (main station) and Istanbul (Pendik)
Bölge 6 Narli - Gaziantep - Nusaybin Line closed since September 2014 until further notice owing to the dangerous situation in the region

See also