Turkey Trains
Everything You Need to Know About Turkey Train Travel
Turkey trains are one of the most exciting and rapidly expanding ways to explore this vast and geographically diverse country — connecting Ankara with Istanbul, threading through the Anatolian plateau toward Konya and Sivas, and continuing to push new high speed lines further east with every passing year. Whether you're booking a high speed YHT train between two cities, riding the legendary Dogu Express through eastern Turkey, or using the Marmaray tunnel to cross under the Bosphorus between the European side and the Asian side of Istanbul, turkey trains offer a genuine range of experiences that few other rail networks in the world can match. Turkish train travel has been transformed over the past two decades by a programme of high speed rail construction that has connected major cities with fast, modern, and comfortable services — all bookable in English through HighSpeedTrains.
Turkish state railways — TCDD — operate the national rail network, which spans thousands of kilometres of track across the country and is divided into high speed lines on key corridors and conventional lines serving regional trains and long distance services. The flagship high speed railway connects Ankara with Istanbul via Eskişehir, with YHT trains reaching speeds of up to 250 km/h and completing the journey in around 4 hours. Ankara is the hub of the high speed rail network, with lines radiating toward Istanbul, Konya, and Sivas — and further construction underway to connect more cities to the growing high speed infrastructure across Turkey.
Beyond high speed rail, the Turkish train network includes overnight long distance trains with sleeping cars, regional trains serving smaller cities and towns, and suburban commuter trains around Istanbul and Ankara.
High Speed YHT Trains in Turkey — Istanbul Ankara and Beyond
High speed trains in Turkey operate under the YHT brand — Yüksek Hızlı Tren, meaning High Speed Train — and represent the most significant investment in Turkish rail infrastructure in the country's history. The first high speed trains entered service on the Ankara Konya corridor in 2011, followed by the Istanbul Ankara line — the most important and heavily used high speed route in the country. YHT trains reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h on the main high speed lines, cutting journey times between major cities by more than half compared to conventional trains on the same routes.
The Istanbul Ankara high speed service covers a distance of 533 km in around 4 hours — departing from Söğütlüçeşme station on the European side of Istanbul and arriving at Ankara station, with up to 17 daily departures in each direction making it one of the most frequent high speed railway services in the region. The Ankara Konya corridor connects Turkey's capital with the historic city of Konya in around 1 hour 45 minutes on the high speed line, passing through some of the most dramatic Anatolian landscapes along the route. The Ankara Sivas line — a newer addition to the high speed network — extends the high speed railway further into eastern Turkey, connecting Ankara with Sivas in under 2 hours and opening up fast rail access to a region previously served only by slow conventional trains.
Popular high speed routes include Ankara to Istanbul, Istanbul to Ankara, Istanbul to Konya, Konya to Istanbul, Istanbul to Eskisehir, and Eskisehir to Istanbul. Book all high speed train tickets through HighSpeedTrains.
Popular questions
Popular questions
Turkey trains fall into several categories. High speed YHT trains are the fastest, reaching 250 km/h on dedicated high speed lines between major cities including Istanbul, Ankara, Konya, and Sivas. Long distance trains with sleeping cars serve conventional routes across the country, including the famous Dogu Express to eastern Turkey. Regional trains connect smaller cities and towns beyond the high speed network. Commuter trains serve Istanbul and Ankara on suburban networks, with the Marmaray tunnel line providing a unique underground crossing under the Bosphorus.
The easiest way to buy a train ticket for Turkey is to book online in advance through HighSpeedTrains. You'll receive an instant e-ticket, choose your seat, and avoid queuing at the station. Booking in advance is particularly important on high speed YHT trains and on the Dogu Express, where seat reservations and sleeping car berths fill up quickly — especially during public holidays and peak travel periods. Train tickets are also available at station counters and ticket machines, but online booking gives you the widest choice of departure times and travel classes.
The Marmaray is a rail tunnel running under the Bosphorus Strait, connecting the European side and the Asian side of Istanbul in only a few minutes. It is one of the deepest rail tunnels in the world, carrying commuter trains through the heart of central Istanbul between Halkalı station in the west and Söğütlüçeşme station in the east. The line passes through Sirkeci station — the historic endpoint of the Orient Express — and connects at several points with the Istanbul metro, tram, and bus networks. The Marmaray carries millions of passengers each year and is a far faster alternative to ferries and taxis for crossing between the two sides of the city.
The Dogu Express is Turkey's most iconic train service — a long distance overnight train connecting Ankara with Kars in eastern Turkey, covering a distance of over 1,900 km in around 24 hours. The journey passes through dramatic Anatolian landscapes with incredible views of mountains, valleys, and remote plains that few other routes in the world can offer. Passengers choose between pullman seat carriages and sleeping cars for overnight sections. The Dogu Express has become a bucket-list rail journey, particularly in winter when snow blankets the eastern landscape.
Turkish high speed YHT trains reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h on the main high speed lines, including the Istanbul Ankara and Ankara Konya corridors. At these high speeds, the Istanbul Ankara journey covers 533 km in around 4 hours — cutting travel time by more than half compared to conventional trains on the same route. The Ankara Sivas high speed line allows similar speeds on the newer eastern extension of the network. Future construction of additional high speed lines is expected to bring more of Turkey's cities within reach of 250 km/h rail travel as the network expands further east and south.
Seat reservations are compulsory on all YHT high speed trains in Turkey — passengers cannot board without a reserved seat. On the Dogu Express and other long distance trains with sleeping cars, reservations for both pullman seat and sleeping car accommodation are compulsory and must be made well in advance, as popular departures sell out quickly. On regional trains, reservations are generally not required. When you book a train ticket through HighSpeedTrains, seat reservations are included automatically for all services that require them.
Turkey's high speed railway connects major cities in competitive journey times. The Istanbul Ankara route takes around 4 hours on YHT trains — a journey time that makes the train a strong alternative to flying when travel time to and from airports is factored in. Ankara Konya takes around 1 hour 45 minutes on the high speed line, and Ankara Sivas takes under 2 hours on the newer extension. For eastern Turkey beyond the high speed network, travel times are longer — the Dogu Express from Ankara to Kars takes around 24 hours on conventional track.
Yes — high speed YHT trains connect Istanbul with Konya in around 4 hours 40 minutes, running via the Ankara Konya high speed line. Trains depart from Söğütlüçeşme station on the Asian side of Istanbul and arrive at Konya station, which is conveniently located near the city centre. Several daily departures operate on this route, making it possible to travel between the two cities without an overnight stay. The service is operated using modern high speed train rolling stock with comfortable seating, free WiFi, and air conditioning throughout. Book your Istanbul to Konya or Konya to Istanbul ticket through HighSpeedTrains.
Istanbul's primary station for high speed YHT trains is Söğütlüçeşme station on the Asian side of the city. Trains to Ankara, Konya, Eskişehir, and other destinations on the high speed network all depart from Söğütlüçeşme, which is accessible from the European side via the Marmaray tunnel in only a few minutes. Pendik station on the Asian side also serves some high speed departures, particularly for passengers travelling from the eastern suburbs. Halkalı station on the European side is served by the Marmaray line and some long distance conventional services. Getting to Söğütlüçeşme from central Istanbul is straightforward by metro and Marmaray, without needing a taxi or bus across the Bosphorus.
Yes — Turkey's high speed rail construction programme is one of the most active in the world. New high speed lines are under construction to connect more major cities to the network, with routes planned toward Izmir, Bursa, and further east toward the Iranian border. The second phase of the Istanbul Ankara high speed line upgrade is also underway, which will eventually allow trains to operate at even higher speeds on the full corridor. Infrastructure investment has been a priority for the Turkish government over the past two decades, and the rail network is expected to continue expanding significantly in the coming years. Track construction on several new lines is ongoing, with completion expected in phases through the late 2020s.
Yes — YHT high speed trains in Turkey are well equipped. Free WiFi is available throughout the train, and power outlets are provided at most seats. Air conditioning and comfortable reclining seats are standard across all classes. Onboard refreshments are available from a service trolley or café car on most high speed departures, and the trains are maintained to a high standard of cleanliness and comfort. The journey from Istanbul to Ankara, for example, is comfortable enough that many passengers use the 4-hour travel time productively for work or rest.
Turkey currently has very limited international train connections to Europe. The historic Sirkeci station in Istanbul was once the terminus of the famous Orient Express from Paris, but direct international trains between Turkey and European cities have not operated for many years. Regional trains do connect Turkey with neighbouring countries including Iran on selected routes, though journey times are very long. For travel between Turkey and European cities, most passengers combine domestic Turkish trains with flights. Domestic high speed and long distance turkey trains remain the most practical rail option for travel within the country, and all tickets can be booked through HighSpeedTrains.