The 17 (Onyedi) Eylül Ekspresi (September 17th Express) between Bandırma and İzmir is not coordinated with the İDO fast ferry between Bandırma and Istanbul, although it does allow you to travel from İzmir to Istanbul in the same day.
The train departs and arrives at İzmir’s Alsancak station, 2km (1.24 miles) north of Basmane station (map).
An alternative: ride the ferry for the voyage between Istanbul and Bandırma (2 hours), and a Kamil Koç bus between Bandırma and İzmir, a road journey of about 4 hours. More…
Ferry schedules as posted on the İDO website are not always consistent; they change according to seasons, with fewer sailings in winter; and revised schedules may be posted only days before a seasonal change takes effect. Confirm times locally (Efendi Travel can do it for you) before you arrive at the station or ferry terminal.
The ferry and train schedules change frequently. As of July 2014, here are the schedules for travel between Istanbul and İzmir in one day:
From Istanbul (17. Eylül Ekspresi)
| Depart | Arrive | |||
| Istanbul (Yenikapı) | 07:00am | Bandırma | 09:00am | Every day |
| 08:30am | 10:30am | Daily except Tuesday | ||
| Bandırma | 15.55pm | İzmir (Alsancak) | 21:52 (9:52pm) | Every day |
From İzmir (6. Eylül Ekspresi)
| Depart | Arrive | |||
| İzmir (Alsancak) | 08:20am | Bandırma | 14:16 (2:16pm) | Every day |
| Bandırma | 15:30 (3:30pm) | Istanbul (Yenikapı) | 17:30 (5:30pm) | Every day |
| 18:30 (6:30pm) | 20:30 (8:30pm) | Every day | ||
| 21:30 (9:30pm) | 23:30 (11:30pm) | Every day |
The schedules above include only the ferry departures useful for continuing your journey by train. There are other train and ferry departures (depending on time of year), but they do not allow you to make the complete journey between Istanbul and İzmir on the same day. (For full ferry schedules, see my Bandırma Ferries page.)
The ferry fare varies by purchase date, travel date, and departure time. Tickets are sold online and at the Yenikapı Ferry Terminal in Istanbul.
—by Tom Brosnahan
| 6 Eylül Ekspresi Turkish State Railways Route Map |  |
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