Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu announced that two new touristic trains, equipped with dining and sleeping cars, will commence their journeys in April on the Ankara-Diyarbakır and Ankara-Tatvan routes.
Minister Uraloğlu stated in a written announcement that these touristic trains will serve as an alternative to the popular “Touristic Eastern Express,” catering to travelers and art enthusiasts alike.
Expressing that the trains are ready to begin their services, Uraloğlu mentioned, “The touristic trains will start their journeys in April and continue until mid-June. The Touristic Eastern Express, which was launched on the Ankara-Kars route, gained significant demand during the winter season. Travelers expressed a desire for tourism-oriented trains on different routes, and with these two trains, we respond to those demands.”
Ankara-Tatvan-Ankara Route
Uraloğlu detailed that the touristic train, covering a 1262-kilometer route from Ankara to Tatvan and back, will start its journey from Ankara on Wednesday, April 17, at 15:55. He mentioned that the train will have a 4-hour stop in Elazığ during the Ankara-Tatvan journey.
The Minister further stated that the train will depart from Tatvan on Friday, April 19, at 06:35. During the Tatvan-Ankara journey, the train will have stops of 3 hours in Palu, 4 hours in Elazığ, and 3 hours in Kayseri.
Highlighting that the touristic train will consist of 9 sleeping cars and 1 dining car, Uraloğlu provided pricing information, stating, “The price for a two-person sleeping cabin on the Ankara-Tatvan route is 9,900 Turkish Lira, while on the Tatvan-Ankara route, it is 9,000 Turkish Lira. The train not only offers an alternative vacation option for discovering the history and natural beauty of Anatolia but also turns the journey itself into a holiday. It provides significant opportunities for photography enthusiasts. We believe these touristic trains will be as beloved as the Touristic Eastern Express. We are continuing our efforts to operate touristic trains on different routes.”
Ankara-Diyarbakır-Ankara Route
Minister Uraloğlu shared details about the Ankara-Diyarbakır-Ankara Touristic Train, which will operate on a 1051-kilometer route. The train will have a capacity of 180 people, including 9 sleeping cars and 1 dining car.
The Ankara-Diyarbakır touristic train will depart from Ankara on Friday, April 19, at 15:55, while the return journey from Diyarbakır will start on Sunday, April 21, at 12:00. During the Ankara-Diyarbakır journey, there will be a 3-hour stop in Malatya, and during the Diyarbakır-Ankara journey, there will be stops of 4 hours in Yolçatı and 3 hours in Kayseri, allowing passengers to explore the historical and cultural values of these locations.
Minister Uraloğlu provided pricing information for this route, stating, “The price for a two-person sleeping cabin on the Ankara-Diyarbakır route is 9,000 Turkish Lira, while on the Diyarbakır-Ankara route, it is 8,000 Turkish Lira.”
source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç