Ticket sales for the Tourist Eastern Express have started.

The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, announced that the Tourist Eastern Express will commence its 2024-2025 winter season trips on December 23, and that ticket sales have started as package tour sales through authorized travel agencies.

Minister Uraloğlu stated that the trips of the Tourist Eastern Express, which have gained great interest between Ankara and Kars, will continue until March 2, 2025. He said, “Our trips will be made from Ankara on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays; and from Kars on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.”

Uraloğlu noted that ticket sales for the Tourist Eastern Express have begun as package tours through authorized travel agencies, and for individual passengers, ticket sales for reserved carriages will begin on November 8 via TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. ticket offices, the internet, mobile application, and call center.

A total of 60 trips will be organized.

Minister Uraloğlu reported that they have reorganized the departure times based on requests from passengers, stating, “The Tourist Eastern Express will depart from Ankara at 13:55, stopping for 150 minutes in Erzincan and 240 minutes in Erzurum, allowing passengers the opportunity to explore these cities. On the return from Kars, it will depart at 21:05, stopping for 210 minutes in İliç, 150 minutes in Divriği, and 180 minutes in Sivas.”

Uraloğlu indicated that the Tourist Eastern Express operates with 8 sleeping cars and one dining car, saying, “During this period, when we will organize a total of 60 trips, our express with a capacity of 160 passengers will offer travel enthusiasts an unforgettable winter experience in the comfort of home in double rooms.”

Regional tourist express trains will perform 24 trips between Erzurum and Kars.

Uraloğlu emphasized that in addition to the Tourist Eastern Express, regional tourist express trains will also operate between Erzurum and Kars, stating, “Due to the high demand for the Tourist Eastern Express, regional tourist express trains will also be put into service between Erzurum and Kars. The regional tourist express trains, planned for a total of 24 trips, will have a capacity of 291 passengers and will operate on Saturdays and Sundays between January 18 and February 23, 2025.”

Tourist Diyarbakır Express trips will start on April 11.

Uraloğlu stated that the Tourist Diyarbakır Express will also begin its trips between April 11 and May 25, 2025, saying, “These trips will be made from Ankara on Fridays and from Diyarbakır on Sundays, allowing passengers to explore cities with 3-hour breaks in Malatya on the Ankara-Diyarbakır route and 4-hour breaks in Elazığ Yolçatı on the Diyarbakır-Ankara route.”

Minister Uraloğlu expressed that they are considering new routes based on surveys conducted with passengers, continuing his statements:

“Due to the unique landscapes offered by tourist trains, opportunities for discovering new places, and the provision of different holiday experiences, our passengers expressed their preferences. We believe that the high demand will be directed to other lines as well. We are also considering launching new tourist routes such as the Tourist Tatvan Train on the Ankara-Tatvan route, the Tourist Tuz Express on the Ankara-Çankırı route, and the Adana-Belemedik Express trips in the Mediterranean region, which are currently in operation as special trains upon request.”

Tickets, which will be sold in double rooms, can be purchased starting from 5,250 lira per person through TCDD Taşımacılık A.Ş. ticket sales offices, authorized agencies, mobile applications, and at https://bilet.tcdd.gov.tr/.