Daily Sabah logo

Politics
Diplomacy Legislation War On Terror EU Affairs Elections News Analysis
TÜRKİYE
Istanbul Education Investigations Minorities Expat Corner Diaspora
World
Mid-East Europe Americas Asia Pacific Africa Syrian Crisis Islamophobia
Business
Automotive Economy Energy Finance Tourism Tech Defense Transportation News Analysis
Lifestyle
Health Environment Travel Food Fashion Science Religion History Feature Expat Corner
Arts
Cinema Music Events Portrait Reviews Performing Arts
Sports
Football Basketball Motorsports Tennis
Opinion
Columns Op-Ed Reader's Corner Editorial
PHOTO GALLERY
JOBS ABOUT US RSS PRIVACY CONTACT US
© Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2023

Daily Sabah logo

عربي
  • Politics
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • Elections
    • News Analysis
  • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Expat Corner
    • Diaspora
  • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • Islamophobia
  • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
  • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
  • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Reviews
    • Performing Arts
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
  • Gallery
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
  • TV

Ankara to Kars: Eastern Express has never been so popular

by Betül Alakent

ISTANBUL Dec 21, 2017 - 12:00 am GMT+3
No Image
by Betül Alakent Dec 21, 2017 12:00 am

The Eastern Express that sets off from the capital Ankara and heads for Kars in the eastern region is in its heyday. The train, which arrives at its destination in 24 hours, is the new tourist attraction in Turkey.

Following the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey, the government embarked on a mission to build railways to every province in Anatolia. The mission of covering Anatolia with railways still continues, but one of the oldest train destinations, Kars, is revived with the recent popularity of the Eastern Express.

The popularity of the destination among domestic and international tourists resulted in a shortage of tickets. Tickets for the Express sell out 15 minutes after they go on sale, and the authorities announced that 13,000 people are waiting in line for the next train.

Although the Ministry of Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication has announced that more wagons will be added to the Express, it seems like it will not be enough to meet the demand.

Tour operators that organize tourist travel to Kars with the Eastern Express said that they can only open spots for 50 people for trains that are supposed to set off in two months.

Kars, which also welcomes tourists that come to the city via airlines and by bus, is swarming with visitors. It has been reported that all hotels and hostels in the city are overbooked by tourists. The city welcomed 279,000 tourists last year, but it seems that this number will spike in 2017 and 2018.

"For the last two years, the Eastern Express has created its own tourist destinations. Hotel managers are doing everything they can to increase the bed capacity in their facilities. Well-known hotel chains such as the Hilton and Radisson are planning to bring their operations to Kars," said Hakan Doğanay, the director of Culture and Tourism in Kars.

The Eastern Express sets off from the Ankara Train Station every day for Kars via provinces such as Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan and Erzurum and arrives at its destination in 24 hours and 30 minutes. Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 18, 271,120 people took the train from Ankara to Kars. The Eastern Express features seated coaches, couchette coach and sleeping coaches with toilets, a minibar and a table.

  • shortlink copied
  • RELATED TOPICS
    fight-against-terrorism DEUTSCHE-BANK US-LIBYA-RELATIONS
    KEYWORDS
    homepage
    The Daily Sabah Newsletter
    Keep up to date with what’s happening in Turkey, it’s region and the world.
    You can unsubscribe at any time. By signing up you are agreeing to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
    No Image
    In photos: Migration flows at the US-Mexico border increasing
    PHOTOGALLERY
    • POLITICS
    • Diplomacy
    • Legislation
    • War On Terror
    • EU Affairs
    • News Analysis
    • TÜRKİYE
    • Istanbul
    • Education
    • Investigations
    • Minorities
    • Diaspora
    • World
    • Mid-East
    • Europe
    • Americas
    • Asia Pacific
    • Africa
    • Syrian Crisis
    • İslamophobia
    • Business
    • Automotive
    • Economy
    • Energy
    • Finance
    • Tourism
    • Tech
    • Defense
    • Transportation
    • News Analysis
    • Lifestyle
    • Health
    • Environment
    • Travel
    • Food
    • Fashion
    • Science
    • Religion
    • History
    • Feature
    • Expat Corner
    • Arts
    • Cinema
    • Music
    • Events
    • Portrait
    • Performing Arts
    • Reviews
    • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
    • Motorsports
    • Tennis
    • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Op-Ed
    • Reader's Corner
    • Editorial
    • Photo gallery
    • Jobs
    • privacy
    • about us
    • contact us
    • RSS
    © Turkuvaz Haberleşme ve Yayıncılık 2021