Turkey's high-speed trains (Yüksek Hızlı Tren, or YHT) currently operate daily on these routes but are not limited to Ankara - Eskişehir - Istanbul, Ankara - Konya and Istanbul - Eskişehir - Konya.
The trains feature two classes of service, Economy and Business. In Business, the seats are 2+1, while in the economy they are 2+2. Although the seats of the economy class are quite comfortable, business class seats are more comfortable. The business class has free facilities, but food and beverage service are paid for in the economy class. The cafeteria car circulates and provides services, such as beverages and snacks, in all wagons. The price difference between these two tickets is not much, you can choose your ticket type according to your expectations.
Train fares are usually lower than the airlines, and comfort is higher on the train. Ticket sales begin 15 days before the train's date of departure.
Istanbul - Ankara YHT Trains
The fastest Istanbul - Ankara high-speed trains make the journey on the 533-km (331-mile) Istanbul-Ankara route in about 4.30 hours, challenging the airlines on such rapid transport between Turkey's two largest cities.
In Istanbul, high-speed trains to Eskişehir and Ankara currently originate not at historic Haydarpaşa Gar, but at Söğütlüçeşme. You can reach Söğütlüçeşme easily by Marmaray. You can also use Pendik station which is a station about 35 km east of Haydarpaşa near Sabiha Gökçen Airport. Travelers can reach Pendik by Metro Line M4 from Kadıköy or Ayrılık Çeşmesi (Marmaray) to Kartal, then İETT Bus 251 or taxi to the Pendik YHT train station.
Haydarpaşa Station
Historic Haydarpaşa Station, given to the citizens of Istanbul by Kaiser Wilhelm II in 1908, has been closed for many years because very valuable archaeological excavations are being carried out inside. According to the latest information, Haydarpaşa Train Station will continue to operate as a train station, and at the same time, archaeological remains will be displayed here. Although the opening date is not known, Haydarpaşa will meet with Istanbul again in all its glory.
Ankara High-Speed Train Station
Ankara YHT Station has moved from its historical building to its renovated modern building. This large and magnificent station has a shopping mall and a hotel, as well as all kinds of equipment to make your trip easier and more enjoyable. Inside, you can stop by the library before your trip, dine in the dining area, drink coffee, shop, visit the exhibition, and enjoy the architecture of the building.
Turkey's High-Speed Trains
Turkey's ambitious high-speed train project foresees additional fast train lines between Istanbul, Bursa, İzmir, and Antalya, and from Ankara east to Sivas and Erzurum, connecting 15 major cities in provinces that are home to nearly half of the country's 85 million citizens. Among these lines, the Ankara-Sivas line has been opened, and it is estimated that many more will be completed in the coming years.
—by Tom Brosnahan, updated by Melike Kocaer
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