Touristic Doğu Express

TCDD Taşımacılık (Turkish State Railways)
Turkey
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The Journey

Navigate from Ankara Railway Station to Kars Railway Station across a span of 1360km. This is an overnight service.

Scenery Highlights
  • Karanlık (Dark) Canyon
  • Euphrates River Valleys
  • Deep Anatolian Winter Snowscapes
  • Erzurum historic city centre
  • Ani Ruins near Kars
  • Kars stone architecture
Quick Facts
  • Duration

    32 hours

  • Distance

    1360 km

  • Est. Price

    Mid-Range

Official Booking Provider
Classes & Accommodations

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Meals: None

Ensuite: No

Engine / Locomotive

TVS2000 diesel-electric locomotive (TCDD fleet)

Locomotive Weight

~120 tonnes (TVS2000 series)

Track Gauge

1,435mm standard gauge

Braking Technology

Air brakes, Westinghouse or Knorr-Bremse systems

Route Engineering Challenges

  • 1,360km route crosses multiple mountain ranges and river valleys

  • Deep snow operation in Anatolian winters

  • Extended multi-hour stops require passenger excursion coordination

  • Crossing the Karanlık Canyon requires careful timing

  • High elevation plateaus (up to ~2,000m) in Eastern Anatolia

Rolling Stock

8 sleeping cars (10 compartments each) + 1 dining car + 2 service cars

Capacity

160 passengers

Max Speed

120 km/h

Avg Speed

~43 km/h

Route Distance

1,360 km Ankara–Kars

Max Gradient

~2.5% on mountain sections

Tunnels

Multiple tunnels on Ankara–Sivas and Sivas–Kars sections

Altitude

Up to ~2,000m in eastern Anatolia

Quick Facts
  • Duration

    32 hours

  • Distance

    1360 km

  • Est. Price

    Mid-Range

Official Booking Provider