Turkish trains give you the most passenger room and amenities, and are usually cheaper but slower than bus, car or plane.
Fare Comparison
A full-fare one-way/single ticket between major cities might cost…
About TL40 on most 10- to 12-hour journeys for a Pullman seatfor one adult, one-way (single). (A similar intercity bus fare might be TL55.)
TL70 for an adult one-way (single) trip on a high-speed train between Istanbul and Ankara.
TL67 to TL93 per person in a sleeping compartment on sleeper trains (TL92 to TL118 for a single traveler in a 2-berth sleeping compartment)
Keep in mind that passengers aged 60 years or older are entitled to a 20% discount on the train fare (but not the sleeping car cost) for any one-way/single trip.
Round-trip/return tickets are discounted by 20%, but as only one discount applies, there is no saving for seniors on round-trip fares.)
You may also save money with a Train Tour Card good for unlimited train travel for 30 days.
However, the trains don’t go everywhere in Turkey (map); except for the high-speed trains, they’re often slower than the bus; and—again, except for the high-speed trains—the equipment may be well-used, and in some cases even dilapidated, though serviceable.
Unfortunately, the only way to find detailed train fares (besides talking to a train clerk in person) is to attempt to penetrate the user-unfriendly Turkish State Railways website. More…
—by Tom Brosnahan
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