Turkey must be one of the few nations where parts of its rail network predate its actual founding. While the country is 111 years old, some of its railway roots date back to 1856, thanks to enterprising British traders operating in the then-Ottoman Empire.
Fast forward to today. Turkey, where the fabled crossroads of Asia and Europe meet, remains an enthralling country of wonder, ruins and curiosity for travellers who want to peek behind the popular facade of its popular holiday persona.
Turkey has realized that its rail infrastructure is indeed a major strength, and, given that tourism is a major source of income, it has, in recent years, pivoted the rail network to meet the needs of adventurous domestic and foreign passengers. Here we take a look at these popular networks:
Ankara-Diyarbakır Train (Mesopotamia Express)
Departing from the historic railway station in the capital, Ankara, the train offers an immersive experience for passengers to explore some of the country’s little-seen but rich landscapes.
Launched in 2024, the train heads to the southeastern province of Diyarbakır. The journey offers enchanting stopovers in Malatya on the outbound leg and in Yolçatı in the eastern province of Elazığ on the return, with a three-hour break in the historical city of Kayseri.
The service, also known as the Mesopotamia Express, covers a scenic 1,051-km route with a capacity of 180 passengers. Due to high demand, people often buy tickets months in advance.
The train’s operations have attracted significant interest, and the Diyarbakır Express’s inclusion in Time magazine’s “World’s Greatest Places of 2024” has further boosted enthusiasm.
Eastern Express
The Eastern Express, also known as the Turistik Dogu Ekspresi, is operated by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) on the Ankara-Kars route and offers tourists a fairy-tale journey through snow-covered plains.
The route was launched in 2019. Departing from Ankara, the train travels through valleys and plains blanketed in white, providing breathtaking views. As it goes through Erzurum’s Aşkale district, the train passes the historic Kandilli Celal Bey and Karasu iron bridges before arriving at the city’s central station for a three-hour stopover.
The journey then resumes with the train passing through Hasankale Station in Pasinler and the historic Çobandere Bridge in Köprüköy before reaching its destination in Kars.
Van-Tehran service
Rail travel between Turkey and Iran is set to get back on track as the long-awaited Van-Tehran train service resumes after a four-year break. The cross-border passenger train will link the two countries, strengthening both tourism and economic ties.
The service will operate twice a week in both directions, offering a scenic 22-hour journey through picturesque landscapes. With a capacity for 40 passengers per carriage, the train, operated by Iran Passenger Transport Company (RAJA), is expected to attract both domestic and international travellers looking for a relaxed, scenic, affordable, slower and more immersive experience through the landscapes of Turkey and Iran.
Roses Express
This İzmir to Isparta service is the prime route for history lovers. Across 10 hours through the coastal Aegean plains and the hill country of western Anatolia, the train calls into Selçuk, three miles east of the UNESCO-listed Ephesus ruins, and Denizli station, a jumping-off point for Pamukkale’s travertine terraces and Hierapolis ruins. Isparta is the gateway to the mountaintop ruins of Sagalassos.
Taurus Express
The Konya to Adana Express uses a historic railway route that was blasted through the Taurus Mountains between 1904 and 1918, and cuts across the Cilician Gates mountain pass. The line which passes over the 320ft-high stone Varda Viaduct and on to the eastern Mediterranean plains for passengers to search castles and ruins.
Pamukkale Express
A nine-hour chug through the rural landscapes between Eskişehir and Denizli, advancing passengers to Pamukkale and the ruins of Hierapolis.
The railway network across Turkey continues to expand and undoubtedly help unlock more destinations that will bring joy to travellers seeking adventures beyond the beach scene the nation is famed for.
Andy Probert is an independent journalist who writes about global travel news, airlines, airports, and business. His work has appeared globally on the BBC, and in many national newspapers and magazines.
