Train Across Turkey

[Tony Robson]

Can anyone tell me please...

I've heard about a train that you can put your bike on that goes from Istanbul to Lake Van (on onwards to Tehran if you want to go that far...) We are contemplating crossing turkey in the summer but with not a lot of time this sounds like a good way to cut out the middle and get over to see the east where we really want to go...

Does anyone know anything about it?
The Cost?
The schedule?
Pick-up/Drop-off Points?
Documents required?
Reliability?
Ability to travel as foot passenger on same train?

etc...

Many thanks, Tony.

[bikerfromsark]

Check thıs out...
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...yone-any-30559

[TADA IMA]

Hi Tony,

I took all the info here from the official site of Turkish State Railways( TCDD-TÜRKÝYE CUMHURÝYETÝ DEVLET DEMÝRYOLLARI ).
I tried to find and translate as much as info as I could. Although there is an option to view the site in English, in reality there is only 1 page there and no info. But if you choose Turkish you got all info you need.. I suppose you don't speak Turkish.. So here we go :

First of all, before costs and schedules there are some laws that you need to know about railway transportation. I will only translate the ones with spesific importance.
**National Railways Transportation Rule 2.3 - Transportation of vehicles ( TCDD-TÜRKÝYE CUMHURÝYETÝ DEVLET DEMÝRYOLLARI: )
- At the transportation process of any kind of vehicle with wheels the payment is in advance. (and probably they will ask for New Turkish Lira=YTL)
- The security of the vehicle, the goods or any kind of extra equipment in or on the vehicle is at the owners' responsibility.
- All vehicles must have an empty fuel tank while transported.
**National Railways Transportation Rule 1.10 - Goods that are NOT permitted for transportation ( TCDD-TÜRKÝYE CUMHURÝYETÝ DEVLET DEMÝRYOLLARI: )
- Because of size, wieght, shape or any other reason; anything that is found not transportable is denied (this you got to know.. because it simply is a rule saying we can turn you down at the door because we decided not to carry your stuff)
**National Railway Transportation Rule 1.14 - Calculation of costs for transportation ( TCDD-TÜRKÝYE CUMHURÝYETÝ DEVLET DEMÝRYOLLARI: )
- The cost depends on;
1) Type and class of the good
2) Weight of the good
3) Distance between the stations of departure and arrival

Now other than this, I spent around 2 hours reading through all regulations and stuff and understood:
* You CAN travel with your bike (if permitted by officials)
* You CAN travel as foot passenger (have to pay extra for ticket)
* They will probably be able to take you and your bike from Istanbul to Van.
* You cant rely on security of your vehicle or any of your stuff if you will be travelling as a foot passenger and leaving them at the cargo compartment.
* I think you'll be allowed to stay with your bike(and wont pay extra in that case as a passenger - National Railways Transportation Rule 1.7.1). But if you stay with your bike you must NOT expect to be comfy..
* I checked the types of the compartments and tried to find out which kind of compartment they would put your bike in. At the page where compartments info was given, there was no mentioning of bikes. But the type of compartment that they are carrying autos is types K and R which are platform compartments. Now if they say they are going to put your bike in one these types and stabilize it with ropes and so on and that this is the only way than there is no possibility for you to stay with your bike because they are open platform compartments. Check out the picture of compartment type K and R TCDD-TÜRKÝYE CUMHURÝYETÝ DEVLET DEMÝRYOLLARI
But if they say they will put your bike in a type G compartment which is declared that it is normally used to transport home goods, food, clothing, cement, fertilizer and live animal; than thats good. Check out picture of compartment type G TCDD-TÜRKÝYE CUMHURÝYETÝ DEVLET DEMÝRYOLLARI
Maybe even if they say they cant carry it other than on a K or R type than you can offer to rent one of these paying extra.. just you and your bike..

Cost :
Up to 1000 kg (approx. 2,204 pounds)
From Istanbul - Haydarpasa to Van (Distance : 1896 km.)
77,17 YTL + 16 YTL (Van Lake Ferry Price)
Total = 93,17 YTL ( approx. 54 Euros )

There could be some extras. (Which I'm pretty sure there WILL BE)

The schedule :

*VAN LAKE EXPRESS 11532
Departure : Haydarpasa at 17:50 every Monday and Saturday
Arrival : Tatvan (around 12:00 the day after)

*SOUTHERN EXPRESS 11542
Departure : Haydarpasa at 17:50 every Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday
Arrival : Kurtalan (around 08:00 the day after)

Neither Tatvan nor Kurtalan is Van's city center. Tatvan is closer to Van. Kurtalan is actually closer to Siirt. I can't say unfortunately if both these expresses is either able or not to carry your bike..

About the paperwork you need I have absolutely no idea. But I dont think there will be smth extra than the normal paperwork you already have.. (Bike's paper, passport etc.)

Hope these help in someway.. If you have any questions pls feel free to contact..

Safe Roads,

Ozgun

[Samy]

Hi Tony,

Ozgun issued all nacessary info which is more than sufficient.

I am not sure if this train (I guess the name is Kurtalan Express) reaches to Tatvan within 24 hours from Haydarpasa/Istanbul.

It is not expensive, but takes very long time...

Sami

[Tony Robson]

Thank you for all the information - it is really useful... I think that we are pretty certain now that we will be riding from the UK-France-Belguim-Germany-Poland-Slovakia-Hungary-Romania-Bulgaria-Turkey-Iran-{Ferry}-UAE-Oman

the info provided is great as we have to do this in 6 weeks so getting across from Istanbul to Lake Van in a day will make all the difference - we want to spend some time exploring Galipoli and eastern Turkey as we have seen Ankara and Capadoccia before....so cutting the middle out on a train will make a real difference...

Many thanks again, I will digest it all and then make sure I save it all in my laptop for re-reading on the road... Thanks again,

Tony.

[kobold]

Hello Tony,

You can find info about trains in the Turkish State Railways website TCDD - TURKISH STATE RAILWAYS.
I talked with people from railways a few days ago and they said "You should load and unload your bike." They dont accept any responsibility for loading or unloading your bike though they help a lot. Normally there is 1-1,5m height difference between the train and platform. So, you need some kind of ramp to load and unload. As far as I know, there is one in Istanbul but availability of a ramp for unloading depends on where you unload. At Lake Van, They transfer passenger and freight car by ferry to the other side. On the other side of the lake, they connect the freight car to Iranian Railways' Train and passengers continue with Iranian Railways also.

Paul Read will take the Istanbul-Tahran train this week so I can give you more detailed info about it in a few days.

Ozgur.