Ankara - Istanbul High-speed Train

Ankara – Istanbul high speed train is a high speed train in Turkey scheduled to operate on 533 kilometer long Ankara – Istanbul high speed railway from February or March 2014. Currently, Ankara – Eskisehir high speed train is operational and the high speed railway between Istanbul and Turkey is almost completed.

Istanbul is the largest city and the financial, cultural and art center of Turkey. Ankara, the second largest city in Turkey, is the capital city. Ankara – Istanbul route is the busiest route in Turkey currently dominated by private buses and airlines. With the completion of the project, travel time between Ankara and Istanbul will be reduced to only 3 hours and the share of transportation by the railway on the route is expected to jump to 78% from the current 10%. More, Ankara – Istanbul high speed railway will connect to Marmaray which will allow direct train access from Europe to Asia.

I have previously used the existing high speed train line between Ankara and Eskisehir. The train is quite comfortable and offers plugs for your computer in the business section and a comfortable working space. Adding these extras, the travel time between Ankara and Istanbul is more productive with the high speed train. And you do not need to pass through those endless security check queues of the airports which also reduces the total time spent.

Ankara – Istanbul High Speed Train (TCDD HT65000)

Ankara – Istanbul High-speed train starts its journey from the city center of Ankara but the story is different in Istanbul. Unfortunately, the high speed train will not arrive to Haydarpasa Train Station in Kadikoy as many hoped. The train starts its service from Pendik, the eastern most district of Istanbul. From there you will need to transfer to normal train line of Marmaray. There are 9 stops on the Ankara – Istanbul High Speed Rail Line (from Ankara to Istanbul):

• Ankara
• Polatlı,
• Eskişehir
• Bozüyük
• Bilecik
• Pamukova
• Sapanca
• İzmit
• Gebze
• Pendik

It seems like this created disappointment for many in Istanbul. One writer in popular internet site Eksi Sozluk wrote “I congratulate Izmit residents for their new High Speed Train Line” (Although Pendik is a district of Istanbul, it is quite far in the eastern outskirts of city towards city of Izmit).

Ankara – Istanbul High-speed Train is not the only high speed rail project in Turkey. There is a high speed rail line between Ankara and Konya and there are projects to connect Ankara to Samsun, Kars (via Sivas, Erzincan) and even distant cities like Diyarbakir and Antep by high speed train. Turkey expects to have 1500 km high speed train line in 2013 and plans to increase this to 10,000 kilometers in 2023, the 100th birthday of Turkish Republic.

Turkey High Speed Railway Map (completed, underconstruction and planned

Qatar Airlines increasing flights from Doha to Ankara

Qatar Airlines is increasing its capacity to Turkey from Doha by introducing additional direct flights from Doha to Ankara, capital city of Turkey. By September 18th, there will be 4 flights per week between Doha and Ankara.

Qatar Airlines uses airbus A320 aircraft on Ankara - Doha route with 12 Business Class and 132 Economy Class seats. The seats are equipped with inflight entertainment system with more than 700 channels and 1000 videos and music.

Qatar Airlines flight QR462 will depart from Doha on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday at 08:00 AM and arrive to Ankara at 11:55 AM. Return flight QR 463 will leave Ankara on the same day at 19:25 and arrive Doha at 23:00.

Qatar Airlines flies to Istanbul and Ankara in Turkey. The airline has recently increased Istanbul - Doha capacity by introducing wide-body Airbus A330 aircraft on the route which has translated to 50% increase on the route. The airline has started to fly to Turkey in 2003.