Ramadan brings quiet to the Eastern Express

The Eastern Express, for which it is normally impossible to find tickets even weeks or months in advance, is experiencing a quiet period due to the month of Ramadan.

Operated by the Republic of Türkiye State Railways (TCDD), the Eastern Express is one of the longest train journeys in Turkey, starting in Ankara and ending in Kars.

Passengers arriving in Kars via the Eastern Express return to Ankara after visiting the city's historical and tourist sites.

Stating that there is a sense of calm due to Ramadan, Kadir Demir said, "We came to Kars for a trip. We stayed for 2 days. The train was very empty on the way here because of Ramadan; we always imagined it would be crowded, we thought everyone would be flocking here, but it was very empty. We arrived, we toured Kars, it was beautiful."

Halil İbrahim Türkmen, who noted that he came to Kars from Ankara, said, "I have been in Kars for a few days. I have reached the end of my trip. Now I will return from Kars to Ankara. It is not as full as the day I first arrived. It is definitely due to the month of Ramadan; the carriages are empty, the inside of the train is empty, it will be a somewhat quiet journey."
On the other hand, the Eastern Express route, which also attracts the attention of domestic and foreign travelers through social media posts, consists of Kars, Erzurum, Erzincan, Sivas, Kayseri, Kırıkkale, and Ankara.

While a few minutes of break are given at intermediate stations, this time extends up to 10-15 minutes at main stations. The journey, which starts in Ankara and ends in Kars, or starts in Kars and ends in Ankara, takes approximately 24 hours.