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 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. There is now only one local train between Kirikkale and Marşandiz. Such a train ran to and from the carriage sidings in January 2012 and appeared to be available for use by passengers. The compilers would welcome any information on whether this still applies.
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 Muselles 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.
| Pamukkale Ekspresi | Hasanbey - 11:17 Alayunt - Denizli | ||
| 21130 Izmir Mavi | Ankara - 23:41 Alayunt - Izmir Alsancak | ||
| 31129 Izmir Mavi | Izmir Alsancak - 03:49 Alayunt Müselles - Ankara | ||
| 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.
| 71621 | Afyon A. Çetinkaya - 08:42 Alayunt Müselles - Eskişehir | ||
| 71622 | 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:
| Pamukkale Ekspresi | Hasanbey - 14:58 Ekinova - Denizli | ||
| Pamukkale Ekspresi | Denizli - 10:28 Karakuyu - Hasanbey |
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) 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.
However, the entire train is carried on the train ferry on the occasional 'Jewels of Persia' tour, operated by Golden Eagle Luxury Trains Limited. A previous version of their brochure stated that passengers were transferred between Tatvan and Van (in both directions) by bus. However, the latest version says "...a six-hour crossing by train ferry takes us from Tatvan to Van." for the eastbound tour, and the opposite for the westbound tour. The compilers would appreciate any information from those either using or seeing these trains.
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. Click on the thumbnail for a full size map.
| 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.
However, the entire train is carried on the train ferry on the occasional 'Jewels of Persia' tour, operated by Golden Eagle Luxury Trains Limited. A previous version of their brochure stated that passengers were transferred between Tatvan and Van (in both directions) by bus. However, the latest version says "...a six-hour crossing by train ferry takes us from Tatvan to Van." for the eastbound tour, and the opposite for the westbound tour. The compilers would appreciate any information from those either using or seeing these trains.
| 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.
| Çerkezköy - Kapikule / Uzunköprü | Bölge 1 | (53A2, ERA 111A2 - 111C1) | Owing to engineering work, no trains are running east of Çerkezköy as at October 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 allegedly because of engineering work. However, it remains closed owing to the unsafe situation in the region. |
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) |
