Turkey - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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Introduction

TCDD has not published a timetable for many years and this list is based on the public timetables contained in the TCDD website as at December 2021. 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 sometimes 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.

Map references for each route entry are given in parentheses ( ). References prefixed "ERA-E" refer to the European Railway Atlas (All-Europe Edition) by M.G. Ball. The European Railway Atlas (Regional Series) by M.G. Ball does not cover Turkey.

Obscure services

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

[Bölge 2] (ERA–E 112C4) TR22/1

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

(Ankara –) Sincan – Polatli – Eskişehir – Esentepe (– İstanbul)

[Bölge 2] (ERA–E 112C4) TR22/2

There are two largely parallel lines between Sincan and Esentepe, which is about 30 km south of Arifiye: the original 'classic' single track Ankara – İstanbul main line and the Ankara - Eskişehir - Arifiye high speed line. Note that the high speed line will be extended beyond Esentepe at some point. The only trains using the 'classic' line are local services between Ankara and Polatli, plus the following long distance trains.

22006 İzmir Mavi 21:00 Ankara - İzmir Basmane
22001 Ankara Ekspresi 22:00 Ankara - İstanbul (Halkali)
32005 İzmir Mavi İzmir Basmane - 05:33 Eskişehir - Ankara
12002 Ankara Ekspresi 22:00 İstanbul (Halkali) - Ankara

Note that the İzmir services use the 'classic' line only between Ankara and Eskişehir, so only the İstanbul services run to Esentepe.

Eskişehir avoiding line

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B4) TR22/2A

This west <==> south curve connects the İstanbul and Afyon lines, avoiding Eskişehir station.

It is thought that it is used by single ended diesel locomotive hauled trains from Kütahya to Eskişehir, which reverse at the west junction and propel into the station to avoid the locomotive having to run round. This was observed on a video of train 72601 05.50 Tavşanlı to Eskişehir. The compilers would appreciate details of any other train observed taking this route.

Alayunt triangle

[Bölge 7] (ERA–E 112B4) TR22/3

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 for a full size map.


Kütahya loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA–E 112B4, not shown) TR22/4

In order to avoid reversing, locomotive hauled trains between Eskişehir and Kütahya which either continue to Afyon or terminate at Kütahya 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.


72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 11:55 Alayunt - Denizli
72013 Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 16:48 Alayunt Müselles - Eskişehir

Note that the local trains 72601 - 72608 are at present worked by units or railbuses, so reverse at Kütahya and do not use the loop.

Karakuyu loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA–E 112B3, not shown) TR22/5

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 such passenger services.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


Based on their timings, the following trains must use the east end loop:

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 15:38 Ekinova - Denizli
72013 Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 12:52 Karakuyu - Eskişehir


Afyonkarahisar loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA–E 112B3, not shown) TR22/6

Afyonkarahisar Ali Çetinkaya station (abbreviated hereafter to Afyon) 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.

Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.


The loop appears to be used on departure from Afyon.

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 14:00 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Denizli
72013 Pamukkale Ekspresi Denizli - 15:04 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Eskişehir


Goncali triangle

[Bölge 7] (ERA–E 112B3) TR22/7

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

north - west curve (Goncali – Goncali Müselles)

Trains between Izmir/Söke and Denizli, and also

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 18:36 Goncali - Denizli. The train reverses at Goncalı

north - east curve (Goncali – Bozkurt (– Çardak))

72014 Pamukkale Ekspresi Eskişehir - 18:00 Kaklık - Denizli

east – west curve ((Çardak –) Bozkurt – Goncali Müselles)

32015 Göller Ekspresi İzmir Basmane - 04:08 Denizli – Isparta
72013 Pamukkale Ekspresi 10:15 Denizli - Eskişehir
72016 Göller Ekspresi Isparta - 00:53 Bozkurt – İzmir Basmane

Note: Goncali Müselles is a basic request halt on the avoiding line. There is no platform or station infrastructure here.

Malatya avoiding line: Sitmapinar – Km 247.8

[Bölge 5] (ERA–E 113A3) TR22/8

This north <=> west curve links the lines from Sivas and Adana.

When there is engineering work between Elazığ and Tatvan, the Vangölü Ekspresi from Ankara to Tatvan is terminated at Elazığ. The stock needs to be turned but there is no facility at or near Elazig to facilitate this. The train therefore runs via the Malatya avoiding line and propels into the station. The locomotive has a cab at only one end, so it runs back light engine round all three sides of the triangle and then attaches to what is now the front of the train, before continuing to Elaziğ. Note that this applies only on the outward run from Ankara to Malatya.

Elazığ – Tatvan Gar – Tatvan İskele [Tatvan Pier]

[Bölge 5] (ERA–E 113B3-B4) TR22/9

Tatvan Gar is a terminus. Since the withdrawal of the Trans-Asya Ekspresi between Ankara and Tehran at the start of the pandemic, there are no longer any services between Tatvan Gar and Tatvan İskele.


Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.



MWO 22012 Vangölü Ekspresi 12:20 TSuO Ankara - 06:34 MWO Elazığ - Tatvan Gar
TFSuO 52602 06:34 Elazığ - Tatvan Gar
TThO 52011 Vangölü Ekspresi 08:40 Tatvan Gar - Ankara
MWSO 52601 08:40 Tatvan Gar - Elazığ


Hanli – Bostankaya

[Bölge 4] (ERA–E 113A4) TR22/10

Whilst Sivas station is closed for engineering work, this 32 km freight-only cut-off avoiding Sivas is being used by all through passenger services between Ankara and Sivas and places further east - Kars, Van and Kurtalan (the Dogu, Turistik Doğu, Vangolu and Guney Kurtalan expresses. This closure is caused by engineering work for the Ankara - Sivas high speed line. Sivas passengers are conveyed by bus between Sivas and Bostankaya. No end date for this work is known.

This line is used by the Turistik Doğu Ekspresi

WFO 22016 Turistik Doğu Ekspresi 15:55 Ankara - 23:28 Kayseri - Kars
FSuO 42015 Turistik Doğu Ekspresi 22:20 Kars - 02:35 Erzerum - Ankara


Van İskele [Van Pier] – Van Gar – Kapiköy – Razi (Iran) – Tabriz

[Bölge 5] (ERA–E 113C4) TR22/11

Since the withdrawal of the Trans-Asya Ekspresi between Ankara and Tehran in February 2020 because of the Covid pandemic, there have been no services on this line.


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) / Uzunköprü (Greek border) Bölge 1 (ERA 111A2 - 111C1) One train each way per day between Uzunköprü and Halkali and one each way between Halkali and Kapikule.

The Istanbul-Sofia Express runs nightly between Halkali and Sofia. However, this train is suspended owing to the Covid outbreak.

The Optima Express car carrying train runs approximately twice a week between Villach (Austria) and Edirne (Turkey).

Irmak - Çankiri - Karabük - Filyos - Zonguldak Bölge 2 (ERA 112C4) Trains are running only between Karabük and Zonguldak owing to engineering work.
Boğazköprü - Niğde - Ulukışla (- Adana) Bölge 2 (ERA 112C3) The Erciyes Ekspresi, running overnight between Kayseri and Adana, is the only train over this line.
Balıkesir - Bandirma Şehir Bölge 3 (ERA 112B4) Two trains each way, the 6 Eylul Ekspresi and 17 Eylül Ekspresi. Connection at Bandirma for high speed ferries to İstanbul Yenikapı.
Karakuyu - Isparta Bölge 3 (ERA 112B3) The Göller Ekspresi, running overnight between İzmir Basmane and Isparta, is the only train over this line.
Uşak - Afyonkarahisar Ali Çetinkaya Bölge 7 (ERA 112B3) The Konya Mavi, running overnight between Izmir and Konya, is the only train over this line
Afyonkarahisar Ali Çetinkaya - Karakuyu Bölge 7 (ERA 112B3) The Pamukkale Ekspresi between Eskişehir and Denizli is the only train over this line.
Afyonkarahisar Ali Çetinkaya – Konya Bölge 7 (ERA 112B3 - 112C3) The Konya Mavi, running overnight between Izmir and Konya, is the only train over this line.
(Konya -) Karaman - Ulukışla (- Adana) Bölge 6 (ERA 112C3) The Toros Ekspresi, between Konya and Adana, is the only train over this line.
Kütahya - Tavşanlı - Balikesir Bölge 7 (ERA 112B4) Two trains each way, the Izmir Mavi and the Ege Ekspresi.
Kalın - Amasya - Samsun Bölge 4 (ERA 113A4) All services suspended since September 2015 for engineering work
Divriği - Erzincan - Erzurum - Kars Bölge 4 (ERA 113A4 - 113C4) The Dogu Ekspresi runs daily between Ankara and Kars, conveying couchette cars. The Turistik Doğu Ekspresi, conveying sleeping cars, runs twice a week between Ankara and Kars. A local train runs twice daily between Divriği and Erzincan.
Kars - Akyaka Bölge 4 (ERA 113C4) Two local trains daily between Kars and Akyaka, on the border with Armenia.
Çetinkaya - Malatya Bölge 5 (ERA 113A3 - ERA 113A4) A daily train between Ankara and Malatya continues 5 days a week as the Güney Kurtalan 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 Ankara and Kurtalan. There are two local 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

None

See also