Ankara Express

Ankara Ekspresi
The eastbound train waiting to depart Halkalı.
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusOperating
LocaleCentral Anatolia
First service12 December 1975[1]
Current operator(s)TCDD Taşımacılık
Former operator(s)Turkish State Railways
Route
TerminiHalkalı station, Istanbul
Ankara station, Ankara
Stops15 (Istanbul-Ankara)
14 (Ankara-Istanbul)
Distance travelled610.3 km (379.2 mi)
Average journey time8 hours, 25 minutes (Istanbul-Ankara)
8 hours, 46 minutes (Ankara-Istanbul)
Service frequencyDaily each way
On-board services
Class(es)Reserved Coach, Sleeper
Seating arrangements2+1 seating
Sleeping arrangementsCouchette and private sleeping rooms
Catering facilitiesOn-board dining car
Technical
Rolling stockTVS2000
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+1⁄2 in)
ElectrificationYes
Track owner(s)Turkish State Railways

The Ankara Express (Turkish: Ankara Ekspresi) is a daily overnight intercity passenger train, operated by TCDD Taşımacılık, between Istanbul and Ankara, with major stops at İzmit and Eskişehir. The train makes the 610.3 km (379.2 mi) long journey in about 8 and-a-half hours.[2]

There are two iterations of the Ankara Express; the first iteration began service in 1975 and departed Haydarpaşa station in Istanbul. This service was discontinued in 2014, with the completion of the Ankara-Istanbul high-speed railway. Following the opening of the Marmaray commuter rail system in 2019, the Ankara Express was brought back, departing from Halkalı station. With this re-routing, the Ankara Express became the first non-high-speed intercity train service to use the Marmaray Tunnel under the Bosphorus.

The train was operated by the Turkish State Railways between 1975 and 2014, and is currently operated by TCDD Taşımacılık since its revival in 2019.

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  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference anahat was invoked but never defined (see the help page).