Trains between Bulgaria and Turkey running again
Trains between Sofia (Bulgaria)/Bucharest (Romania) and Cerkezköy (Turkey) are running again. A replacement bus operates between Cerkezköy and Istanbul. You Eurail pass is valid on this bus.
Train reservations can be made at Istanbul Sirkeci station and not at Cerkezköy. So make sure you make your reservations before taking the bus.
Replacement bus to Istanbul for Eurail pass holders
Due to the building of a new high-speed line there are engineering works on the train line between Istanbul and the Bulgarian border.
There is a replacement bus connecting Kapikule at the Bulgarian border with Istanbul, Turkey, operated by the Turkish railway TCDD. Eurail passes are valid for this journey. The bus makes no stops between Istanbul and Kapikule. This situation should last for at least one year.
TCDD replacement bus schedule
- Kapikule 02:55 – Istanbul Sirkeci 07:50
- Istanbul Sirkeci 22:00 – Kapikule 02:52
Trains within Turkey
Within Turkey there are no more trains running between Istanbul Haydarpasa and Izmit. TCDD is not offering any alternative transport for this route, however there are regular buses connecting the two cities. This route is not covered by your Eurail pass. This situation will also last for at least one year. From Izmit, trains run normally to Ankara and the rest of Turkey.
Turkey's first high-speed train line
TCDD is constructing the country's very first high-speed train line within Europe. The train line will connect the capital city, Ankara with the most-populated city, Istanbul through the new Bosporus tunnel. The new transport line is expected to serve around 17 million people and cut travel times as well as pollution levels.
