The Anatolian Express (Turkish: Anadolu Ekspresi, French: Anatolie Express) was one of the four direct train services operating between Istanbul and Ankara. The train was an overnight train consisting of eight sleeping cars and one dining car. The train was the first non-international train to consist of a sleeping car in Turkey. The train was operated by the CIWL from 1927 to 1950. From 1950 on, TCDD operates the train.

Anatolian Express
The westbound Anatolian Express waiting to depart Ankara.
Overview
Service typeInter-city rail
StatusOperating
LocaleNorthwest, Central Anatolia
First service1927 [1]
Current operator(s)Turkish State Railways
Former operator(s)CIWL[1]
Route
TerminiHaydarpaşa Terminal, Istanbul
Ankara Central Station, Ankara
Stops17
Distance travelled576.6 km (358.3 mi)
Service frequencyDaily each way
Train number(s)11208 (Eastbound)[2]
11207 (Westbound)[2]
On-board services
Class(es)Sleeping Class
Sleeping arrangementsPrivate room accommodations
Catering facilitiesDining Car
Baggage facilitiesChecked baggage available at selected stations
Technical
Rolling stockTVS2000
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in) standard gauge
Electrification25 kV 50 Hz AC
Operating speed120 km/h (75 mph) maximum
Track owner(s)TCDD
Route map
Distance
Station
0
Haydarpaşa
1 km (0.6 mi)
Söğütlüçeşme
9 km (5.6 mi)
Bostancı
24 km (14.9 mi)
Pendik
Istanbul
Kocaeli
44 km (27.3 mi)
Gebze
91 km (56.5 mi)
İzmit
Kocaeli
Sakarya
131 km (81.4 mi)
Arifiye
156 km (97 mi)
Ali Fuatpaşa
167 km (103.8 mi)
Pamukova
Sakarya
Bilecik
195 km (121.2 mi)
Osmaneli
231 km (143.5 mi)
Bilecik
248 km (154.1 mi)
Karaköy
248 km (154.1 mi)
Ayvalı
263 km (163.4 mi)
Bozüyük
Bilecik
Eskişehir
313 km (194.5 mi)
Eskişehir
Eskişehir
Ankara
486 km (302.0 mi)
Polatlı
551 km (342.4 mi)
Sincan
576 km (357.9 mi)
Ankara

Timetable

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The Anatolian Express runs every night from both termini.[3]

Outward Return
# Station Time # Station Time
1 Istanbul-Haydarpaşa 22:30 1 Ankara Central 22:30
2 Söğütlüçeşme 22:34 2 Sincan 23:03
3 Bostancı 22:44 3 Polatlı 23:55
4 Pendik 23:02 4 Eskişehir Central 02:09
5 İzmit Central 23:56 5 İnönü 02:36
6 Arifiye 00:29 6 Karaköy 03:04
7 Yayla D 02:12 7 Bilecik 03:28
8 Bozöyük 02:47 8 Arifiye 04:55
9 Eskişehir Central 03:36 9 İzmit Central 05:27
10 Polatlı 05:50 10 Pendik 06:31
11 Sincan 06:41 11 Bostancı 06:53
12 Ankara Central 07:07 12 Söğütlüçeşme 07:04
13 Istanbul-Haydarpaşa 07:07

References

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  1. ^ a b The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Steam & Rail - By Colin Garratt and Max Wade-Matthews, p.397
  2. ^ a b TCDD Timetables Archived April 26, 2011, at the Wayback Machine - Anatolian Express
  3. ^ "Anadolu Ekspresi Tren Saatleri" (in Turkish). e-Yaşam Rehberi. Retrieved 2012-02-12.