Iran by train
How to travel in Iran by train: information, connections, blog and travel reports. Help in our forum to buy train tickets.
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Buy the train ticket at a railway station. Note: in some countries you have to pay a service fee at the ticket counter. The ticket can be purchased at a station in the country of departure, also sometimes in other countries.
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Iran -
Azerbaijan
To travel from Iran Azerbaijan, you have to use a bus. Buy your bus ticket locally in Iran at a bus station.
There is a railway route under construction between Qazvin (Iran) and Astara (Azerbaijan) which will probably open in 2024. This route will connect in future Teheran with Baku.
Iran -
Turkey
Travel from Iran to Turkey by Trans-Asia Express train on the route from Tehran via Tabriz, Van and Tatvan to Ankara. The travel distance is 3.000 kilometres with a total travel time of 60 hours. The train ticket price is 55 EUR in a 4-bed compartment.
The journey starts in Tehran by a train of Iranian railways which offers 4-bed compartments including pillow, sheet and blanket. You get free water, juice and cake. You can order meals which are served to your compartment. The train also stops in Tabriz.
In Van the train ends and you change to the ferry to Tatvan. The journey time of the ferry is six hours and included in your train ticket. The train directly arrives at the ferry pier of Van and departs as well directly from the ferry pier in Tatvan. No need to walk or have transfers by bus or taxi.
From Tatvan you continue by a train of Turkish railway in direction of Ankara. The train offers 4-bed compartments with fours seats in day-position and four beds at night. You get a pillow, sheet and blanket to make your bed by yourself. Toilets and washrooms are available at the end of the corridor of the wagon. A train restaurant is available.
The train schedules from Tehran to Ankara is as follows.
- Tehran departure at 21:55 on Wednesday
- Tabriz departure at 11:00 on Thursday
- Razi (border station in Iran) arrival at 15:00 on Thursday
- Kapıköy (border station in Turkey) departure at 18:00 on Thursday
- Van ferry pier arrival at 21:20 on Thursday
- Ferry crossing to Tatvan ferry pier
- Tatvan ferry pier departure at 05:50 on Friday
- Ankara arrival at 07:40 on Saturday
Find train schedules and buy your tickets via the given booking links.
