Turkey - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

From EGTRE
Jump to navigationJump to search

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 March 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 (Haydarpaşa), both European and Asian Turkey; 2 Ankara; 3 Izmir (Alsancak); 4 Sivas; 5 Malatya; 6 Adana and 7 Afyonkarahisar.

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 112B4) TR18/1

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 - Arifiye

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112B4 - 112C4) TR18/2

There are two largely parallel lines between Sincan and Arifiye, the original 'classic' single track main line and the Ankara - Eskişehir - Arifiye high speed line. Owing to works to extended the high speed line into Ankara there are no services at all on the classic line as at December 2017.

Ankara: Gazi Mah. – Marşandiz carriage sidings

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112C4, not shown) TR18/3

Marşandiz carriage sidings run parallel to and well to the north of Marşandiz station. Owing to engineering work on the Baskentray project (Ankara suburban services) no trains are running on this route.

Alayunt triangle

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B4) TR18/4

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) TR18/5

In order to avoid reversing, locomotive hauled trains between Eskişehir and Afyon run via this loop line which diverges to the north, east of Kütahya, enabling them to approach the station from the west. It is always used prior to arrival at Kütahya. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


The only train to use this line is

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 11:30 Alayunt - Denizli
72013 Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 14:34 Alayunt Müselles - Eskişehir

Other trains are worked by units or railbuses, which reverse at Kütahya and do not use the loop.

Karakuyu loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3 not shown) TR18/6

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:

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 15:21 Ekinova - Denizli
72013 Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 10:44 Karakuyu - Eskişehir

Afyon loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3 not shown) TR18/7

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.

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 13:42 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Denizli
72013 Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 12:49 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Eskişehir

Goncali triangle

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3) TR18/8

There is a triangle east of Goncali station whose usage is as follows:

west – south curve (Goncali - Goncali Müselles)

Regional trains between Izmir/Söke and Denizli, plus

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 18:14 Goncali - Denizli

east – west curve (Bozkurt – Goncali)

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 17:38 Kaklık - Denizli

east – south curve (Bozkurt – Goncali Müselles)

72013 Pamukkale Ekspresi 08:00 Denizli - Eskişehir

Note: Train 72014 reverses at Goncalı

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

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112C3) TR18/9

This west <==> south curve connects the Ankara line with the Niğde/Ulukişla line. Boğazköprü Müselles halt is located on this curve. Owing to engineering work for the Baskentray project, operation of the Çukurova-Ekspresi between Ankara and Adana is suspended, replaced by the Erciyes Ekspresi between Kayseri and Adana. There is therefore no service over this curve as at December 2017.

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

[Bölge 4] (ERA 113A4) TR18/10

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 trains, which were withdrawn on 23 February 2014 on the introduction of a new DMU service but reinstated on 18 March 2014. They were karma (mixed) trains but may now be DMUs as at December 2017.

42603 Divriği - 07:58 Çetinkaya - Sivas
42604 16:00 Sivas - Divriği

Elazığ – Tatvan Gar – Tatvan İskele [Tatvan Pier]

[Bölge 5] (ERA 113B3 - 113B4) TR18/11

Owing to the security situation, all services to and from Iran have been suspended. It is not known when they will resume. There are therefore no trains between Tatvan Gar and Tatvan İskele. Owing to engineering work for the Baskentray project, there are no trains between Ankara and Kirikkale. As at January 2018 a connecting bus is provided for the Vangölü Ekspresi, departing Ankara for Kirikkale at 11:00. Until recently the train started and terminated at Irmak; it is not known when Irmak will once again be available for train services.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


MWO 22012 Vangölü Ekspresi 12:45 TSuO Kirikkale - 04:58 MWO Elazığ - Tatvan Gar
TFSuO 52862 07:05 Elazığ - Tatvan Gar
TThO 52011 Vangölü Ekspresi 07:00 Tatvan Gar - 05:51 Kirikkale (connecting bus to Ankara)
MWSO 52861 07:15 Tatvan Gar - Elazığ


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.

Halkali - Çerkezköy - Kapikule - Svilengrad (Bulgaria) Bölge 1 (ERA 111A2 - 111C1) One train each way per day between Halkali and Kapikule and one between Halkali and Çerkezköy. The "Istanbul-Sofia Express" runs nightly between Halkali and Sofia.
Irmak - Çankiri - Karabük - Filyos - Zonguldak Bölge 2 (ERA 112C4) Trains are running only between Karabük and Zonguldak owing to engineering work.
Boğazköprü - Niğde - Ulukışla Bölge 2 (ERA 112C3) One train each way: the Erciyes Ekspresi between Kayseri and Adana.
Balıkesir - Bandirma Şehir Bölge 3 (ERA 112B4) One train each way, the "6 Eylul Ekspresi, owing to engineering work. Connection at Bandirma for high speed ferries to İstanbul Yenikapı.
Uşak - Afyon A.Çetinkaya Bölge 7 (ERA 112B3) The Konya Mavi, running overnight between Izmir and Konya, is the only train over this line
Afyon A. Çetinkaya - Karakuyu - Goncali Bölge 7 (ERA 112B3) The Pamukkale Ekspresi runs daily between Eskişehir and Denizli
Afyon – Konya Bölge 7 (ERA 112B3 - 112C3) The Konya Mavi, running overnight between Izmir and Konya, is the only train over this line.
Karaman - Ulukışla Bölge 6 (ERA 112C3) The Toros Ekspresi, running daily between Adana and Konya, is the only train over this line.
Kütahya - Tavşanlı - Balikesir Bölge 7 (ERA 112B4) Two trains each way - the Izmir Mavi and Ege Ekspresi.
Kalın - Amasya - Samsun Bölge 4 (ERA 113A4) All services suspended since September 2015 for engineering work
Divriği - Erzincan - Erzurum - Kars - Akyaka Bölge 4 (ERA 113A4 - 113C4) The Dogu Ekspresi runs daily between Kirikkale (connecting bus to/from Ankara) and Kars. A local train runs daily between Divriği and Erzincan and two local trains daily between Kars and Akyaka.
Çetinkaya - Malatya Bölge 5 (ERA 113A3 - ERA 113A4) A daily train between Kirikkale (connecting bus to/from 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 Tatvan.
Yolcati - Diyarbakır - Batman - Kurtalan Bölge 5 (ERA 113B3) The Güney-Ekspresi runs 5 days a week between Kirikkale (connecting bus to/from Ankara) and Kurtalan. In addition there are two trains a day between Diyarbakır and Batman.
Malatya - Fevzipasa Bölge 5 (ERA 113A3) One train each way, the Firat Ekspresi, runs daily between Elaziğ and Adana.
Fevzipaşa – İslahiye Bölge 6 (ERA 113A3) One local train a day each way: early morning from İslahiye and late evening back.

Deletions since previous edition

TR16/12 Van İskele [Van Pier] – Van Gar – Kapıköy – state border (– Razi IRIR) The Trans-Asya Ekspresi (Ankara - Tehran) has not run since July 2015, when it was suspended by the Iranian Railways
Çerkezköy - Uzunköprü Service withdrawn
Manisa – Soma Normal service restored
Konya – Karaman Normal service restored; sparse section now Karaman – Ulukışla
Kalın - Amasya and Havza - Samsun Service withdrawn temporarily over entire Kalın - Samsun line

See also