Enthusiast's Guide to Travelling the Railways of Europe

TURKEY (Türkiye)

Lines with obscure or sparse passenger services

This list is based on the working timetable dated 1 October 1999 (valid until further notice), unless otherwise shown. Standard abbreviations used are explained in the General Information document. Due to the lack of published timetables for Turkey and the substantial inaccuracy of commercial publications, train timings have been indicated as far as available.

Last update for this page: 1 September 2000 .

In rural areas and on branch lines TCDD often operates mixed trains (karma). These trains are subject to timetable alterations without any prior notice, frequently on an ad-hoc basis and arrival times may substantially vary from booked times. Karma trains should not be used without prior local confirmation. Only where positive reference to a confirmation is made in the below listing, it can be reasonably assumed that the train will operate as shown.

This document has been split according to TCDD's Bölge (administrative/operational regions), which are Istanbul (Europe and Asia), Ankara, Izmir, Sivas, Malatya, Adana and Afyon.

Travelling in the South-East: Due to the circumstances in South-East Anatolia trains have been frequently subject to cancellations and suspensions in the past. As the situation has eased in recent times, there is no general problem to safety of passengers, and trains can be used whenever they are running. Nevertheless, any change in the political climate may result in short notice suspensions, independent from any information contained herein.

Region 1 - İstanbul

Obscure lines:

none

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.

Kapıkule - Svilengrad (Bulgaria) TR00/01

A single track non-electrified line.

Uzunköprü - Pythion (Greece) TR00/02

A single track non-electrified line.

Eskişehir avoiding line TR00/03

An electrified track connecting from the Afyon to the İstanbul line, avoiding Eskişehir station. All trains booked to call at Eskişehir Enveriye are running on this curve. Change of traction in Enveriye.

During night hours, Meram Ekspresi İstanbul - Konya - İstanbul (11319/11320), Pamukkale Ekspresi İstanbul - Denizli/Burdur/Eğirdir - İstanbul (11321/11322) and İçanadolu Mavi Treni İstanbul - Ereğli - İstanbul (11125/11126) are operating on this curve as well.

Region 2 - Ankara

Obscure lines:

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.

Irmak - Karabük TR00/04

A single track non-electrified line.

Boğazköprü - Niğde - Ulukışla TR00/05

A single track non-electrified line. For Boğazköprü halt on the avoiding line also see the section below (¹).

Boğazköprü avoiding line¹ TR00/06

A single track non-electrified south-to-west curve, connecting the Ankara with the Niğde line.

Region 3 - İzmir

Obscure lines:

none

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.

Balıkesir - Bandirma TR00/07

A single track non-electrified line. Due to ongoing track improvement works trains are frequently subject to cancellation. Local check urgently recommended. Trains connect at Bandirma for high speed ferries to İstanbul Yenikapı.

Çatal - Tire TR00/08

A single track non-electrified line. Weekend workings not confirmed.

İzmir Alsancak - Halkapınar curve TR00/09

A single track non-electrified curve connecting İzmir Alsancak to the Manisa line. Timings of suburban services (banliö) are not confirmed.

Region 4 - Sivas

Obscure lines:

Samsun - Gelemen - Azot is an extension of the former Samsun - Gelemen branch turning off the Çarşamba line at km 6.5. It is used for non public services to the Azot refinery, 1 km behind former Gelemen station on Monday to Friday working days. There is no public access at Azot and due to tight security it is not recommended to travel this line without identification documents and some basic Turkish knowledge. Departures Samsun at 06:25, 07:55, 12:25, 14:25, 17:00, 22:25; departures Azot at 07:10, 08:40, 13:10, 15:10, 17:45, 23:10; travel time 21 minutes.

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.

Kalın - Samsun TR00/10

A single track non-electrified line.

Çetinkaya - Kars TR00/11

A) Çetinkaya - Divriği: single track electrified line.

B) Divriği - Erzincan: single track non-electrified line.

C) Erzincan - Erzurum: single track non-electrified line.

D) Erzurum - Kars: single track non-electrified line.

Kars - Doğukapı - state border TR00/12

A single track non-electrified line.

Region 5 - Malatya

Obscure lines:

Elazığ - Tatvan Pier: The Vangölü-Ekspresi İstanbul - Tehran is booked to operate three times weekly, but currently suspended east of Elazığ. Local mixed trains do operate, see item below.

Van Pier - Kapıköy - state border: The Vangölü-Ekspresi İstanbul - Tehran is booked to operate once per week. On this line, all passenger service is suspended.

The Lake Van ferry (railway traject) is therefore without regular passenger service and not running according to schedule. Sailing times depend on demand and the occurence of rail freight.

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.

Malatya - Çetinkaya TR00/13

A single track electrified line.

Malatya - Narlı TR00/14

A single track electrified line.

Elazığ - Tatvan TR00/15

A single track non-electrified line. The services shown below are karma trains, and in August 2000 they have been confirmed by local railway sources.

Diyarbakır - Kurtalan TR00/16

A single track non-electrified line.

Region 6 - Adana

Obscure lines:

Şenyurt - Mardin has two daily mixed trains booked which would serve as feeders for the Gazi Antep - Nusaybin trains at Şenyurt . Traffic on this line however appears to be suspended.

Köprüağzı - Kahraman Maraş has three daily mixed trains booked. Traffic on this line however appears to be suspended.

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.

Gazi Antep - Nusaybin TR00/17

A single track non-electrified line. The services shown below are karma trains, and in August 2000 they have been confirmed by local railway sources.

Narlı - Gazi Antep TR00/18

A single track non-electrified line. Two additional mixed (karma) trains are booked on this line, but they do not appear to operate at the moment. The only confirmed traffic is the Toros-Ekspresi as shown below:

Booked departures of karma trains are at: Gazi Antep 08:30, 16:00 (2h 18 min) and Narlı 07:30, 15:00 (2h 15 min).

Narlı loop TR00/19

Narlı station is equipped with an electrified loop track, leaving Narlı to the south-west, turning to the north-east and joining the Malatya-bound line. All trains to and from Malatya reverse in Narlı and use this loop track. It cannot not be confirmed whether the Toros-Ekspresi to/from Gazi Antep is using this loop or the direct line. Local services from Narlı to Gazi Antep are the only trains confirmedly booked to use the direct line, for further information refer to the Narlı to Gazi Antep section above.

İslahiye - Tahtaköprü (state border) - Meydan Ekbez (CFS) TR00/20

A single track non-electrified line.

Region 7 - Afyon

Obscure lines:

none

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.

Eğirdir - Bozanönü TR00/21

A single track non-electrified line.

Karakuyu loop TR00/22

A single line loop track leaves Karakuyu station to the west and joins the Afyon bound line after turning to the north-east. The unit forming 32709 Karakuyu 10:45 - Burdur is regularly shunting over this loop - with passengers. Gülistan-Ekspresi Ankara - İsparta is likely to use this loop as well in order to avoid reversing at Karakuyu.

Afyon loop TR00/23

Afyon Ali Çetinkaya station is equipped with a loop track, leaving Afyon to the north-east, turning back to the west and joining the station tracks just west of the platform tracks. Generally, through trains from Alayunt to Uşak or Karakuyu are likely to use this track in order to avoid reversing. For Dumlupınar Mavi Tren 31111 Ankara - Afyon 01:07/01:25 - Izmir and 31112 Izmir - Afyon 03:09/03:25 - Ankara use of the loop track on the way from/to Uşak is confirmed.

Alayunt direct line TR00/24

All trains from Eskişehir to Afyon or v.v. not calling at Kütahya station are using the straight line side of the Alayunt triangle.

Kütahya loop TR00/25

In order to avoid reversing, all trains from Eskişehir to Afyon or or v.v. calling at Kütahya station are using the Kütahya loop allowing to approach the station from the west prior to arrival at Kütahya.

Created 1 September 2000.

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