Turkey - Lines with Obscure or Sparse passenger services

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 February 2014 for entries prefixed "TR14/" and as at January 2015 for entries prefixed "TR15/". Standard abbreviations are explained in General Information. In the absence of timetable table numbers, each line's TCDD Bölge (administrative/operational regions) 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 presumably ceased on lines which cross or run close to the Syrian border, even though the website may show trains.

Obscure services

Eskişehir avoiding line

[Bölge 1] (ERA 112B4) TR15/1

This west <==> south curve connects the İstanbul and Afyon lines, avoiding Eskişehir station. Note that Eskişehir Enveriye station is situated on this curve.

Only high speed trains (Yüksek Hizli Tren) now operate between Eskişehir (main station) and Istanbul. It is not known if conventional services using this curve will resume when the main line reopens.

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

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112C4 not shown) TR15/2

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 – Eskişehir

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112B4 - 112C4) TR15/3

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 2014. Conventional trains use the original main line and high speed trains (Yüksek Hizli Tren) the new line.

Ankara: Gazi Mah. – Marşandiz carriage sidings

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112C4, not shown) TR15/4

Marşandiz carriage sidings run parallel to and well to the north of Marşandiz station. Some or perhaps all local trains between Kirikkale and Marşandiz run to and from the carriage sidings and appear to be available for use by passengers. One train ran this way in January 2012. The compilers would welcome any information on the present situation.

Kütahya loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B4 not shown) TR15/5

In order to avoid reversing, locomotive hauled trains between Eskişehir and Afyon which call at Kütahya station 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.

		Pamukkale Ekspresi	Eskişehir - 23:12 Alayunt - Denizli
		21130 Izmir Mavi	Ankara - 23:41 Alayunt - Izmir Alsancak
		31129 Izmir Mavi	Izmir Alsancak - 03:49 Alayunt Müselles - Ankara
		Pamukkale Ekspresi	Denizli - 05:01 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.

		71621	Afyon A. Çetinkaya - 08:58 Alayunt Müselles - Eskişehir
		71622	Eskişehir - 19:29 Alayunt - Afyon A. Çetinkaya

Karakuyu loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3 not shown) TR15/6

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:

		Pamukkale Ekspresi	Eskişehir - 03:01 Sandıklı - Denizli
		Pamukkale Ekspresi	Denizli - 01:05 Karakuyu - Eskişehir

Afyon loop

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3 not shown) TR15/7

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	Eskişehir - 01:34 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 - 03:19 Afyon A.Çetinkaya - Eskişehir

Goncali avoiding line: Bozkurt – Goncali Müselles

[Bölge 7] (ERA 112B3 not shown) TR15/8

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.

Pamukkale Ekspresi

Eskişehir - 05:14 Bozkurt - Denizli

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

[Bölge 2] (ERA 112C3) TR15/9

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)

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

[Bölge 4] (ERA 113A4) TR15/10

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	06:20 Divriği - Sivas
		42802	16:45 Sivas - Divriği

Elazığ – Tatvan Gar – Tatvan İskele [Tatvan Pier]

[Bölge 5] (ERA 113B3 - 113B4) TR15/11

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

Tatvan Gar is a terminus and trains may well propel 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.

	MWO	11532 Vangölü Ekspresi	Marşandiz (Banliyö) - 11:15 TSuO Ankara - 06:20 MWO Elazığ - Tatvan Gar
	ThO	11512 Trans-Asya Ekspresi	10:25 WO Ankara - 06:31 ThO Elazığ - Tatvan İskele (- Tehran)
	TFSuO	52862	07:05 Elazığ - Tatvan Gar
	TThO	51531 Vangölü Ekspresi	07:20 Tatvan Gar - Ankara - Marşandiz (Banliyö)
	FO	51511 Trans-Asya Ekspresi	(Tehran -) 04:57 FO Tatvan İskele - Ankara
	MWSO	52861	07:15 Tatvan Gar - Elazığ

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

[Bölge 5] (ERA 113C4) TR15/12

The Trans-Asya Ekspresi (Ankara - Tehran) operates once a week. Note that only the through baggage car is carried on the Tatvan - Van train ferry; through passengers must join the ferry on foot. A train operates once a week between Tabriz and Van Gar [Van station], not Van Pier.

	TO	51516/495	20:00 Van Gar - Tabriz
	ThO	11512/491 Trans-Asya Ekspresi	(Ankara -) 21:30 Van İskele - Tehran
	TO	494/51515	22:30 MO Tabriz - 04:15 TO Kapıköy - Van Gar
	ThO	490/51521 Trans-Asya Ekspresi	21:25 WO Tehran - 17:40 ThO Kapiköy - Van İskele (- Ankara)

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 - Kapıkule	Bölge 1	(53A2, ERA 111A2 - 111C1)	Owing to engineering work, no trains are running east of Kapıkule as at January 2015
Kapıkule - Svilengrad (Bulgaria)	Bölge 1	(53A2, ERA 111A2)
Irmak - Çankiri - Karabük - Filyos (- Zonguldak)	Bölge 2	(ERA 112C4)	There are no trains as at January 2015 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 TR15/9 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 Eskişehir and Denizli
Kalın - Amasya and Havza - Samsun	Bölge 4	(ERA 113A4)	The Amasya - Havza section of the Kalın - Samsun line has a more frequent service.
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 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.
Narlı - Gaziantep	Bölge 6	(ERA 113A3)	Owing to engineering work, no trains have run east of Narlı since October 2011.
Gaziantep - Nusaybin	Bölge 6	(ERA 113A3 - 113B3)	The trains service was withdrawn from 31 July 2013 owing to engineering work. However, the situation in Syria makes it unlikely any public service will resume in the foreseeable future.

Deletions since previous edition

TR14/7A	Malatya avoiding line: Sitmapinar - Yazlak (Km 247+800)	Curtailment of the Vangölü Ekspresi to operate only between Ankara and Elazığ ceased on 25 July 2014
TR14/8	Narlı loop	The Toros Ekspresi which might have used this loop is no longer listed as going to Gaziantep, to which all trains have been suspended for some time.