New Season Excitement Has Started at Eastern Express! With the new season starting today, a total of 60 trips will be made and approximately 10,500 travel enthusiasts will experience this unique experience. On the Ankara-Kars route, 2 hours 30 minutes in Erzincan and 4 hours in Erzurum; On the Kars-Ankara route, the Eastern Express will offer unique views and unforgettable moments with 3 hours 30 minutes in İliç, 2 hours 30 minutes in Divriği and 3 hours in Sivas.
ANKARA (AA) – Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that they put the Touristic Eastern Express on the service in addition to the Eastern Express and said, “We will make 60 trips in the new season of the express, which starts today, and we will serve approximately 10 thousand 500 travel enthusiasts.” he said.
In his speech at the “2024-2025 Season Touristic Eastern Express Train Farewell Ceremony” held at the Historical Ankara Train Station, Uraloğlu said that the Eastern Express, which started its first voyage in 1949, followed the Turkish cultural heritage in every period it served.
Pointing out that the Touristic Eastern Express is not just a train journey, Uraloğlu said, “Our express is also a time journey that offers a unique experience for those who want to discover the ancient culture, natural beauties and rich history of Anatolia. Eastern Express has been completing its 1360-kilometer route on the Ankara-Kars line in an average of 26 hours for 75 years.” he said.
Uraloğlu reminded that in addition to the Eastern Express, which has attracted great attention as one of the most beautiful train routes in the world, they launched the Touristic Eastern Express with a new understanding on May 29, 2019, and said that the express will comfortably enjoy Turkey’s rich culture, natural beauties and history. He explained that it was one of the most special means of introducing his heritage to the world.
Pointing out that the train service provides a high quality, different holiday option for passengers of all ages, especially young people, nature enthusiasts and groups who want to take photographs, Uraloğlu said, “Since it was first launched in 2019, 71 thousand passengers have traveled so far. In the new season of the express, which starts today, we will make 60 trips and serve approximately 10,500 travel enthusiasts. Our train is a unique tour with a stop of 2 hours 30 minutes in Erzincan, 4 hours in Erzurum in the Ankara-Kars direction, 3 hours 30 minutes in İliç, 2 hours 30 minutes in Divriği and 3 hours in Sivas in the Kars-Ankara direction. and will present a feast of scenery.” made his assessment.
– “There is intense interest in the touristic Eastern Express”
Uraloğlu said that Erzurum was selected as the capital of tourism by the Economic Cooperation Organization in 2025 and the ‘European Winter Sports Capital’ by the Federation of European Sports Capitals and Cities.
Stating that Erzurum will be the capital of two important events in 2025, Uraloğlu said, “I believe that our train, which will stop in Erzurum with a 4-hour stop, will bring a different movement to the city and our passengers traveling by train will have the privilege of directly participating in some of the activities that will take place in this city.” he said.
Minister Uraloğlu stated that there is intense interest in the Touristic Eastern Express, citizens may have difficulty in finding tickets, and this situation is especially experienced on trains departing from Ankara to Kars.
Pointing out that there are also return trains departing from Kars to Ankara on the same route, Uraloğlu stated that it is easier to obtain tickets in this direction.
Uraloğlu reminded that after the Touristic Eastern Express, they started new routes such as Touristic Diyarbakır, Regional Touristic Kars-Erzurum, Ankara-Tatvan Touristic Expresses upon popular demand.
Stating that ticket sales for the Ankara-Diyarbakır route of the Touristic Diyarbakır Express have started today, Uraloğlu said that the Touristic Diyarbakır Express attracts as much attention and interest as the Touristic Eastern Express.
Uraloğlu stated that they planned the Touristic Diyarbakır Express as 8 train trips, 4 going and 4 returning, in the Ankara-Diyarbakır and Diyarbakır-Ankara directions, and continued his words as follows:
“This train will stop in Malatya for 3 hours on the Ankara-Diyarbakır trip, and for 4 hours in Elazığ Yolçatı on the Diyarbakır-Ankara trip, for tourism purposes. In the Regional Touristic Kars-Erzurum Express, we will make 24 train trips, 12 departures and 12 returns, and in the Touristic Tatvan Express, we will make 4 train trips, 2 departures and 2 returns. For travel lovers, we have train routes not only domestically but also abroad. You can travel comfortably to Europe with the Istanbul-Sofia Express, which is one of the most enjoyable and economical ways to reach Europe. “37 thousand local and foreign tourists traveled on the Istanbul-Sofia route in 2024.”
– “We started a brand new era in railways”
Minister Uraloğlu explained that touristic expresses also opened a new page on Turkey’s tourism map and contributed significantly to the international promotion of the country.
Pointing out that these trains strengthen cultural interaction by attracting tourists from all over the world to the country, Uraloğlu said:
“If we had not made the necessary investments in railways since 2002, it would not be possible to talk about tourist trains, innovative railways and train culture today. Under the leadership of our President, we started a brand new era in railways and created a spring atmosphere again. In 22 years, we increased our 10 thousand 948 kilometer network to 13 thousand 919 kilometers and made most of our existing lines electrified and signaled. We made Turkey the 6th high-speed train operator in Europe and the 8th in the world. Our railways have caught up with the change required by the age and have gained a dynamic structure. Of course, we are not stopping… We plan to increase the railway line length to 17 thousand 287 kilometers by 2028 and to 28 thousand 590 kilometers by 2053.”
After his speech, Uraloğlu chatted with the passengers and gave them gifts, and after signing the memoir, he bid farewell to the train.
