The Touristic Eastern Express, provided by the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the General Directorate of Turkish State Railways (TCDD) Transportation Inc., was sent off on its inaugural journey from Kars on the Ankara-Kars route.
The Touristic Eastern Express, launched on May 29, 2019, through the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, is gaining attention as it aims to meet the increasing passenger demand, provide better services, and boost domestic tourism.
Comprising dining and sleeping cars, the Touristic Eastern Express, in terms of its concept, allows passengers to witness significant historical and cultural cities along the Ankara-Kars route.
This year, the Touristic Eastern Express will operate from Ankara between December 11, 2023, and March 8, 2024, and from Kars between December 13, 2023, and March 10, 2024. The express will depart from Ankara on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and from Kars on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The approximately 1300-kilometer Ankara-Kars route is completed in about 30 hours, while the Kars-Ankara route takes approximately 34 hours.
Today, the Touristic Eastern Express, departing from Kars Train Station, set off for Ankara at 22:06.
One of the passengers, Gülşah Altınok, expressed, "We really liked Kars; the warm welcome and the interest of the people were truly enjoyable. We are very excited to board the train, and hopefully, it will be a pleasant journey."
Mehmet Güne mentioned that they came to visit Kars and felt the excitement of being the first passengers on the Touristic Eastern Express from Kars to Ankara.
Hüsamettin Yaman, who came from Aydın to Kars, stated that they visited Kars for the first time, liked it a lot, and felt fortunate to be the first passengers on the train.