Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
Posted 14 years ago
[b]ISTANBUL - IZMIR | day / night train and ferry[/b]
You have two options - the first one completely by train (the longer one by using a night train) and the second one by ferry plus train.
[b]Option 1 | by train and ferry[/b]
[b]ISTANBUL - IZMIR[/b]
[b]Istanbul[/b] (Ferry terminal: Yenikapi) Dep: 0700 | by [u]http://www.ido.com.tr[/u] - IDO ferries (you have to pay for this journey: ~ EUR 7 | no reduction)
[b]Bandirma[/b] Arr: 0900
[Only some steps to the railway station]
[b]Bandirma[/b] Dep: 0945 | by 6 Eylül Express train (free of supplements)
[b]Izmir[/b] (Basmane station) Arr: 1550
[b]IZMIR - ISTANBUL[/b]
[b]Izmir[/b] (Basmane station) Dep: 0930
[b]Bandirma[/b] Arr: 1450| by 6 Eylül Express train (free of supplements)
[Only some steps to the ferry terminal]
[b]Bandirma[/b] Dep: 1530 | by ferry: ~ EUR 7
[b]Istanbul[/b] (Ferry terminal: Yenikapi) Arr: 1730
[b]Option 2 | only by train[/b]
[b]ISTANBUL - ESKIŞEHIR - IZMIR[/b]
[b]Istanbul[/b] (Haydarpasa station) Dep: 1330 | by free Bogazici Express
[b]Eskişehir[/b] Arr: 1845
[b]Eskişehir[/b] Dep: 2120 | by night train Mavi Tren ( [u]http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/mnbt/traingoster.asp?IdCategory=31127[/u] - coming from Ankara) | supplements (single bed compartment: ~ 23 EUR, double bed compartment: ~ 12 EUR) - buy your reservation already in Istanbul | there are also two night trains a bit earlier and later with couchettes or seats (I recommend at least couchettes) - ask for them in Istanbul
[b]Izmir[/b] (Basmane station) Arr: 0750
[b]IZMIR - ESKIŞEHIR - ISTANBUL[/b]
[b]Izmir[/b] (Basmane station) Dep: 1855 | by night train Mavi Tren ( [u]http://www.tcdd.gov.tr/mnbt/traingoster.asp?IdCategory=31127[/u] - in direction of Ankara) | supplements (single bed compartment: ~ 23 EUR, double bed compartment: ~ 12 EUR) | there are also two night trains a bit earlier and later with couchettes or seats (I recommend at least couchettes)
[b]Eskişehir[/b] Arr: 0644
[b]Eskişehir[/b] Dep: 1140
[b]Istanbul[/b] (Haydarpasa station) Arr: 1645
:!: Note: due to railway infrastructure works in the Istanbul area, there are no trains running between ESKIŞEHIR and ISTANBUL and reverse. Trains are replaced by buses.
[b]Update: Jan 2012[/b]
bitutia
Traveller
3 comments
so it means that going to Izmir from Istanbul using the second option counts as TWO days, right?
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
Hi.
[b]Option (2) from Istanbul to Izmir[/b]: TWO travel days
[b]Option (2) from Izmir to Istanbul[/b]: TWO travel days as the night train leaves before 1900h. But there is a later night trains as well, then it's only ONE travel day. If you don't want to loose one of your travel days, maybe just buy a normal train ticket - in Turkey they are extremely cheap.
Peter :)
bitutia
Traveller
3 comments
Thanks. I've also checked the later train from Izmir to Istanbul. It was stated that it's 1st class only. I'm actually new to this and I'm a bit confused. If you have 2nd class youth pass, can you still take the 1st class train? Or is this the case when you need to buy a supplement?
Thanks again :)
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
No. With a 2nd class ticket you can't use the 1st class train. You will have to pay the price difference. But I think it will be complicate, as they might not really understand what the InterRail pass is. Maybe the best option is even to buy a normal Turkish ticket for this train. It won't be too expensive.
Peter :)
bitutia
Traveller
3 comments
Ok, now everything's clear. I think I'll do what you're suggesting :) Cheers.
baobab
Traveller
128 comments
I think i will try this route soon.. so the city name is Istanbul 8) ||
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
Oh. Sorry. My fingers was faster than my brain. Corrected it! ;)
And have fun on this route. :)
fredweasley
Traveller
1 comments
Guys, i have an another ideas about İstanbul-İzmir route. In Turkey we are not usually use trains. We always use intercity buses. And İstanbul-İzmir route is frequently use. Because of this you can find Istanbul-İzmir bus ticket from every bus company except National Holiday times and Summer Season. You must calculate this un-ordinary situations. Sorry for my english:D
rubeva
Traveller
3 comments
We took this route, but unfortunately the information was not accurate. The train from Bandirma to Izmir we wanted to take at 0945 was not running. However there is a train, that leaves Bandirma in the afternoon. Sorry, I do not recall the exact time. Please verify the information and update it for fellow travelers.
Instead of waiting in Bandirma we took a bus instead for about 13€. The bus was really nice and much faster than the train.
Peter
Traveller
9331 comments
Hi.
The information above is already older than two years. I'm sorry, but we can not update every old forum topic. Simply impossible as long as we do not get enough support from the users which use the whole railcc project for free - by purchasing their rail passes / train tickets via the railcc partner links.
As we also have to pay the servers, the programming, translations, research for content, the food we eat, ... :)
Peter :)
rubeva
Traveller
3 comments
Dear Peter,
I really appreciate your work and the information avaliable made our trip much easier. It was not my intention to sound too critical. All other information we used for this trip was accurate and the schedules are organized very well.