How to Use High Speed Rail (Fast Train) During My Turkey Tour?

Yuksek Hizli Tren in Turkish and known as Fast Train Line of  Turkey abbreviated as YHT. The fast train line is supported financially by TCDD Transportation company (known as Turkish State Railways) and government to enlarge the net of railroad and increase of transportation with train in every corner of Turkey.

Currently Fast Train of Turkey is available in Istanbul (both Asian and European sides of city), Ankara, Konya, Eskisehir, Bilecik and these are the main cities of Marmara region and Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. This line is connected with Marmaray Tunnel under Bosphorus Strait to get European side of Istanbul city. Started operating in 2009 with attendence of President Abdullah Gul and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan today it’s expanding the network. Current railroad is approximately 770 km (480 miles) but with ongoing expansion projects it will be almost double size untill the end of 2023. The speed of high speed rail is between 250-300km per hour can be converted as How to Use High Speed Rail (Fast Train) During My Turkey Tour? however please note that in some areas this speed is limited to 120 km per hour due to safety reasons. If you are a rail buff you will definitely love this journey.

Operating 26 train service per day in total under normal circumstances however with coornavirus restrictions this number has decreased to 16 per day. Also please note that trains are not available on lockdown days which covers most of the weekends in early period of the 2021. As a precaution only bottled water is provided in the train during corona virus process.

Trains offer firstclass, business class and economy class service which is available between all cities that’s in the net. Tickets are available between Istanbul – Ankara Cities which takes around 4 hours 30 minutes, Ankara -Konya with duration of 4 hours 30 minutes and Ankara – Konya which takes 2 hours. Catering service is available in the train for guests who prefer having snacks on their journey. All cars are designed with disabled access so every passenger can easily get to train. In every train 2 seats are available for wheelchairs and responsible staff will help from station till train to each guest.

Do I need HES Code to get to High Speed Rail (Fast Train)?

Turkish citizens are required to get HES Code in website of Ministry or HES application with their identity numbers. On the other hand foreign visitors are not required as they don’t have a local identity number for records. Tourists can urchase tickets without HES code.

How Can You Book the Fast Train (High Speed Rail) Tickets?

You can visit official website of TCDD to book your ticket in person and TC identity card or your passport will be enough instead of printed tickets. Please remember that original passport is required to get to train otherwise passport copy is not accepted.

You can start your journey in Bakirkoy or Sogutlucesme Station to Ankara as first phase of the trip. Within 5 hours you will get to Ankara city and see highlights of city in one day. Taking early morning train is suggested if you would like to embrace the capital city of Turkey. Ankara Castle, Mousaleoum of Ataturk (founder of modern, secular Turkish Republic) and Anatolian Civilizations Museum are the most important highlights of city. If you have the bug we definitely suggest you to visit Chess Museum of the city, it holds a rich collection of hess from different countries and time periods of time, you will definitely have a star on your eyes.

After an overnight stay in Ankara you can get early morning train to Konya city. Upon arrival to station in city center your first stop should be Mousaleoum of Mevlana Celaleddin Rumi which is also known as Green Tomb. Famous Islamic philosopher of his era and with all embracing/welcoming ideology had produced worldly known book of Mesnevi. Then second stop of your tour can be Alaaddin Hill and castle of the ancient town adorned with symmetrical examples of art. In order to see ceramic examples of the Selcjuk State you can visit Karatay Madrasah Museum and wooden-stone art examples can be seen in Ince Minare Madrasah Museum. As all these sites are in 10 minutes walking distance from each other you will have enough time to taste local food such as ‘etliekmek and tandir kebabi‘.
An overnight stay is suggested if you would like to join our Private Catalhoyuk Tour to witness Neolithic age relics and archeological area, otherwise you can fly back to Istanbul or use afternoon train which will take 4 hours 30 minutes back to Istanbul.