Railway services suspended following earthquake in Turkey and Syria
Railway traffic in southeastern Turkey and northern Syria has been affected due to the earthquakes that struck the border region on Monday. In Syria, all railway traffic is suspended while in Turkey it is mostly...Read more
Speedy 120-km/h metro line inaugurated in Istanbul
The Turkish ministry of Transport and Infrastructure this week inaugurated a metro line to Istanbul Airport. The line stands out for its speed, as in some sections passengers will be travelling at 120 kilometres per...Read more
Turkey inaugurates new commuter railway system
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoğlu inaugurated the Gaziray commuter railway system in the eastern city of Gaziantep over the weekend. Work on the line coincided with installation...Read more
Legendary Orient Express returns to Istanbul
Istanbul welcomed the legendary Orient Express on Thursday. The Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, offered by travel company Belmond, runs once a year between Istanbul and Paris.Read more
Turkish media uncovers documents hinting at bribery by local Siemens officials
Individuals at Siemens Mobility Turkey may have bribed Turkish government officials, construction company Kolin and Turkish State Railways (TCDD), a whistleblower has alleged. Documents regarding the allegations and a subsequent investigation by Siemens Mobility were...Read more
Turkey breaks ground for new high-speed line
A groundbreaking ceremony was held over the weekend for a new high-speed line between the Turkish capital Ankara and Kayseri, an important industrial city further east. Once completed, travel time between the two Anatolian cities...Read more
Turkey marks completion of tunnelling for new high-speed line
Turkish Transport minister Adil Karaismailoğlu celebrated the completion of tunnelling activities for the new high-speed line to Bursa over the weekend. It connects the important centre of commerce and industry in the Marmara region to...Read more
Turkey’s Cappadocia Express sleeper service to use Renfe rolling stock
Sun Tren’s Cappadocia Express, Turkey’s first private railway venture, will be using two Renfe trains for its planned sleeper service to the UNESCO world heritage site Cappadocia, the Spanish operator announced on Wednesday.Read more
Turkey kicks off work on new high-speed line and freight connection
The Turkish ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and local authorities held a so-called first rail welding ceremony earlier on Wednesday for a new high-speed line and freight connection across the European part of the country.Read more
Istanbul’s Sirkeci Station 45 years after the last Orient Express
Thursday, May 19 marks 45 years since the arrival of the last Orient Express at Sirkeci Station in Istanbul, Turkey. While Istanbul wasn’t the first destination of this legendary train service nor the last, it...Read more
Turkey and Bulgaria to reinstate Istanbul-Sofia Express sleeper train
The Istanbul-Sofia Express will resume services on Monday, April 25, the Turkish ministry of Transport and Infrastructure announced on Wednesday. The sleeper train was suspended in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Read more
Turkey aims for major increase of rail use with new investments
The Turkish Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure unveiled its transport and logistics master plan earlier this month, which calls for almost 200 billion dollars (183,7 billion euros) in investment over the coming two decades. Among...Read more
Amsterdam-Abu Dhabi by train? Yes, you can
InterviewInternational trains are all the rage in 2022. Travellers appreciate the comfort and the adventure of train travel, with the added benefit of much lower CO2 emissions compared to flying. But what if your destination...Read more