Vangölü/Güney Ekspresi Trains

The Vangölü/Güney Ekspresi departs Istanbul (Haydarpasa) daily except Wednesday at 22:55 (10:55 pm) hauling reserved and unreserved compartment cars, a couchette car, a sleeping car and a dining car, usually fairly old equipment—this is not the most comfortable train.

It arrives in Ankara the following morning at 08:03 am, and continues eastward via Kayseri (arriving 15:40/3:40 pm) and Elazig to Malatya, arriving at 00:43 (12:43 am).

After Malatya, things change.

On some days the train continues eastward as the Vangölü (Lake Van) Ekspresi to Tatvan on Lake Van, arriving at 14:17 (2:17 pm).

On alternate days it goes instead southeastward toward Diyarbakir (arriving at 07:09 am), and Kurtalan (arriving 10:56 am) as the Güney (Southern) Ekspresi.

So if you board the train in Istanbul on Monday or Saturday evening, or in Ankara on Tuesday or Sunday morning, it will be named the Vangölü Ekspresi, bound for Tatvan.

If you board it in Istanbul on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday or Sunday evening, or in Ankara on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Monday morning, it will be the Güney Ekspresi, bound for Diyarbakir and Kurtalan.

These trains do not depart Istanbul on Wednesday evenings, but the Trans Asya Treni does.

The Vangölü/Güney Ekspresi departs Ankara every day except Sunday at 12:10 pm, arriving in Istanbul at 21:14 (9:14 pm), a journey of 9:04 hours (if it's not late).

On Sunday, the Trans Asya Treni departs Ankara at breakfast time (if it's not late), and takes 8:15 hours to get to Istanbul.

Here's a list of all Istanbul - Ankara trains.

Please read this safety notice about sleeping car travel.

Turkish TrainsRoute Map

Istanbul - Ankara Trains

Types of Turkish Trains

How to Buy Train Tickets

Fare Discounts

Monthly Passes

Pullman Car

Couchette Car

Sleeping Car