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The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced that ticket sales for the 2025–2026 winter season of the Touristic Eastern Express start Monday. The train, one of Türkiye’s most popular rail tourism experiences, will begin its new season on Dec. 22, 2025, and continue operations until March 1, 2026.
In a written statement, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated that the Touristic Eastern Express will operate from Ankara to Kars on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays and from Kars to Ankara on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, completing a total of 60 round trips during the season.
Highlighting the train’s contribution to Turkish tourism, Uraloglu emphasized that the Touristic Eastern Express has become an iconic experience, offering passengers the opportunity to discover Türkiye’s natural landscapes, cultural richness and historical heritage along its 1,360-kilometer route.
On the Ankara–Kars leg, the train will stop for two hours and 30 minutes in Erzincan and four hours in Erzurum. On the Kars–Ankara return journey, it will stop for three hours in Ilic, two hours and 30 minutes in Divrigi and three hours in Sivas. Including these stops, the total journey will last approximately 32 hours.
The Touristic Eastern Express consists of eight sleeper cars, each with 10 compartments, and one dining car, accommodating a total of 160 passengers. Each compartment is designed for two travelers. Tickets are offered in two categories: individual tickets, available through Türkiye's State Railways' (TCDD) official sales channels and tour packages, available through authorized travel agencies.
Since its launch in 2019, the Touristic Eastern Express has carried more than 81,000 passengers, becoming one of the leading brands in Türkiye’s rail tourism sector by combining comfort, culture and scenic beauty in a single journey.
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