BUCHAREST - ISTANBUL - train

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

I found out the train only goes to Sofia when i called the train station in Romania? Could you please verify this?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Hi,

no double posts please (I deleted the other topic).

Well, there are no reports about a cut of the Bucharest - Istanbul train. I dont know what exactly the lady at the station wanted to tell you but the train should run as normal (but not to Sirkeci station in Istanbul, only to Halkali, a suburb).
Anyway, maybe there was confusion because the coaches to Istanbul are attached to the daytime train Bucharest - Sofia between Bucharest and Gorna Orjahovitsa. The coaches to Istanbul are through coaches which means the train number changes there, so maybe that's why you got this information. Where did you phone up exactly?


Flo 8)

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

Sry Flo
Didnt wanted to spam. I called Timisora station and got the only english speaking person in Romania i guess :D . She said that the train will only go to Sofia. But according to you then there is a direct train that will meet a train from Sofia? if so were do they meet as i can imagine the train from buc will go via Sofia?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

It's alright... ;)

Well, normally it works like this: There is a daytime train Bucharest - Sofia, leaving at 1230; this train carries the coaches for Istanbul until Gorna Orjahovitsa. There, the Istanbul coaches are detached and continue via Veliko Tarnovo - Stara Zagora to Dimitovgrad where they are attached to the Sofia - Istanbul train.
Have a look at the maps :arr: [u]http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/map.php?file=maps/romania/romania.gif[/u] :arr: [u]http://www.bueker.net/trainspotting/map.php?file=maps/bulgaria/bulgaria.gif[/u]

All these trains should run as normal, I havent heard otherwise. I have used both the Sofia - Istanbul and Istanbul - Bucharest train myself a month ago.
When do you want to travel? If you are unsure, I'd better call Bucharest Gara de Nord station, not Timisoara...it'd be very unusual if the train really wouldn't run but I doubt it.


Flo 8)

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

it would be usefull if u could give me a number to gare du nord.

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

I dont have one, sorry.

margaralena
Traveller
2 comments

Hi,

Any updates on this topic? I'm planning the same trip, Bucharest to Istanbul hopefully on the Bosphorus Express, According to the RailEur*pe site that route doesn't seem to be running? the only Route from Bucharest is via Sofia. Do you know anything more about this? Any help would be appreciated,

Thanks!

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

The train is running, although not all the way through to Istanbul Sirkeci station but only to Halkali on the outskirts of Istanbul. From there, replacement buses run to the city centre.

[u]https://rail.cc/blog/bucharest-sofia-istanbul-train/[/u]

From the end of May, the train probably will only run to/from Cerkezköy, about two hours away from Istanbul. Again, replacement buses will cover the remainder of the journey.

margaralena
Traveller
2 comments

Do you know why that train doesn't appear on either the DeutcheBahn website or RailEur*pe site? This is the only itinerary that appears on both, a 32 hour trip via Sofia which doesn't appear to have any sleeper cars:

Bucuresti Nord Gara A We, 08.05.13 dep 23:12
Gorna Orjahovica Th, 09.05.13 arr 05:03
Gorna Orjahovica Th, 09.05.13 dep 08:54
Plovdiv Th, 09.05.13 arr 14:18
Plovdiv Th, 09.05.13 dep 21:15
Dimitrovgrad(BG) Th, 09.05.13 arr 22:15
Dimitrovgrad(BG) Th, 09.05.13 dep 23:25
Istanbul Sirkeci Fr, 10.05.13 arr 07:50

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Because it is is not included in the database used by both websites and nobody there cares to include it...

jonnymorrison
Traveller
1 comments

Hello,

I was wondering if anyone knows when the line will be re-opening from Bucharest <--> Istanbul? Basically, I'm wanting to do the journey in July 2014 and do recall seeing somewhere (can't remember where) that it [b]should[/b] be open, but the author of the post seemed to be sceptical.

If not, is the train now running past the border, but just not all the way?

Thanks!
Jonny

Peter
Traveller
9331 comments

Hi Jonny.
You can use this train, only the last part in Turkey is by bus replacement.
We suppose that in summer you can travel again the whole way by train without replacement.
See also schedule link above.
Peter :)

nltrainer
Traveller
1330 comments

Noone will ever be able to go all the way as it was-as Sirkeci station is closed forever. Will be some new shopping mall or hotel.
As for now this train ends at a IST suburban stop, Cerkezko'y (koy means village), some say there is a bus waiting form you-others say you have to battle it yourself in finding the IST-card to pay the IETT or find a taxi. For both you must have TRL money.
It is intended to have the train end a bit further at the Yenikapi (=new gate) stop, which will be the new big terminal also for the IST-ANK HS-trains via the new tunnel. The metro has also been extended to there. it is the other side of the tourist-belt seen from SultanAhmed.
There may also be other works somewhere in BG on the tracks-as this changes to much, I am too lazy to keep track of all that

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

The train currently stops in Cerkezköy, which is about 100km/2 hours away from Istanbul, and a bus replacement service operates to Sirkeci station.
The suburban stop nltrainer mentioned is Halkali station which is the terminal of Istanbul suburban trains. If the Cerkezköy - Halkali line is open for traffic the train may run all the way to Halkali however it can be difficult to get to the centre from there.
Also, there will be construction works in Bulgaria as well, leading to the diversion of the train in Bulgaria, and resulting in even longer travel times.

FelixNRW
Traveller
1 comments

Hello I read at drehscheibe-online.de this:
According to news on page [www.dgpazar.eu], from 10.04. to 13.08.2014. there will be bus replacement on section Gorna Orjahovica - Dimitrovgrad for international train Bucuresti - Istanbul. There will be new train from 10.04. Dimitrovgrad 06.38, Plovdiv 07.57 which will carry through coach Istanbul (Cerkezkoy) - Sofia.

I Need more Infos about this works.
Thnk you!

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

This is also the information we have. More details probably can only be obtainted directly from BDZ (Bulgarian Railways) or from reports from other travellers.

kalinka
Traveller
28 comments

Hi,
I also read on Drehscheibe online, that you have to take the bus between Gorna Orjahovica an Dimitrovgrad and just asked CFR Calatori (Romanian Trains)among other things, if they know anything about it. They confirmed this information, but didn´t tell something about the duration of the railway-works. They only told me, that the price or the bus is inclusive. We´ll see...
I also wonder, if the train to Istanbul really will end at Halkali in a few months and if there will be a good possibility to travel eastern.

Karin

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

From bucharest youll be waiting at gorna train station for 1 hour or so and then the bus will take you to the next station were you will be boarded on a turkish train.

From the other way around its the same.

kalinka
Traveller
28 comments

I´ve got bad news from BDZ:
Additional to the bus replacement between Gorna Orjahovica and Dimitrovgrad, which ends probably in the middle of August) there will be others from 03.06. for undefinite time. Between Dimotrovgrad and Kapikule and between Kapikule and Cerkezköy will be infrastructur reconstructions and you have to take the bus, provided by BDZ and TCDD!!!
From Cerkezköy to Istanbul will be a train, says BDZ.
No good year to travel to Turkey by train...

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Hmm..thanks for the update! :)

One can only hope that when the works are finally finished there will be a proper train service again from Europe to Istanbul with better timings and more modern rolling stock than nowadays. :)

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

Kalinka where did u get that info from? As the both the turkish and romanian info says only from Gorna there is half hour with bus.

kalinka
Traveller
28 comments

Hi,
I got these infos by mail from bdz_passengers@bdz.bg, Marketing&Products Dept.
Nobody else, except of BDZ, seems to know anything about that. But there are also some informations at [u]http://www.plovdivsvilengradrailway.com[/u], as a user of Drehscheibe online told me.
It would be great, if we only had to take the bus from Gorna Orjahovica to Dimitrovgrad and the Information from BDZ was wrong!
I´m really anxious, how our trip in August will be.

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

This highlighted destination is only if you travel to or from Sofia and not Bucharest?

kalinka
Traveller
28 comments

Hi,
a man , who took the train from Bukarest to Istanbul on 7th of June wrote, that he had to take a bus replacement from Gorna Orjahovica to Dimitrovgrad (7p.m. - 11p.m.), than a bus replacement to the border and then (at half past 1p.m.) one to Istanbul (till 7 p.m.). That´s the last report I read about this connection and I guess, that´s no joke.

Estherjew
Traveller
1 comments

I also want to go with the train from Bucharest to Istanbul where can I found information about it? It is very difficult to find something about it. I willl travel at the begin of August how long will the trip take? Do I have to go to Sofia first or shall I take the direct train to Istanbul?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Hi!

Please check the link in the first post where you find timings and a blog post about this route.
However, as you can read above, there is currently a bus replacement operating on long parts of the route which is due to last until August. Exact information can only be obtained locally though, so we would be glad if you would share your experiences afterwards. :)


Flo 8)

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

The bus starts from Gorna all the Way to Istanbul Sirkici and thats more than 10 hours of bus ;) .

rubeva
Traveller
3 comments

We took this route on July 8th. We left Bucharest by train. The above information about the buses is true. The route is Bucharest-Gorna Orjahovitsa(train)
Gorna Orjahovitsa-Dimitrovgrad(bus)
Dimitrovgrad-Kapikule(bus)
Kapikule-Istanbul(bus)

It sounds rough, but there are a handful of people that take this route. The atmosphere is realxed and it was a very nice trip, even without a lot of sleep :D

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

Any news of this rute any1???

nltrainer
Traveller
1330 comments

no-remains all the same at least untill mid-dec=Main Timetable change. Only some of the stations to change train->bus have changed.
Unless you are masochist and want to save every penny-use a direct luxe Turkish tourbus from BUCuresti or Sofia, or perhaps Plovdiv-and pay for it.

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

i found out that works is only remaining from dimit - turkey. So a chance the train goes to dimit to change into bus?

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

At the bulgarian rail website bdg or something i found out that trains do work from stara zargova to dimitrovgrad ergo there must be some kind of train. but i tried to call romanian and bulgarian rail and they all denied such and said that only busses from bucharest.

Then this lady told that train goes to gorna i guess. maybe my english isnt that good so maybe you try and call :P

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

The link says train leaves at 12:13 at bahn 12:55 any1 know what time it leaves?

nltrainer
Traveller
1330 comments

From where? If 12.13 is a local site-you can assume that bahn lags behind. Or better take no risk.
Latest notes now tell that the WHOLE sector in TR is now also bus-due to the very low nr. of passengers.

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

from bucharest. And the bahn says 12.55 train leaves for sofia not istanbul? 0.o. is the line completely dead?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

The Bucharest - Istanbul coaches are attached to the Bucharest - Sofia train until Gorna Orjahovitsa, thats why it says that the train goes to Sofia only.

Last information I got a few days ago in Plovdiv: Bus from Yabalkovo to Kapikule, train to Cerkezköy, bus to Istanbul; however on the same day news from TCDD emerged that the bus operates on the whole route from Kapikule to Istanbul as nltrainer wrote.
Regarding the train from Bucharest: Bus from Gorna Orjahovitsa to Kapikule and then of course again bus to Istanbul.

LairdCamster
Traveller
2 comments

I'm really hoping to be able to enjoy the Bosfor Express in October, previously I've done the route from Bucharest to Sofia and watched the Romanian Sleeper car and Turkish Couchette set off from Gorna for the Turkish border.

This time I was hoping to begin my journey in Ruse and travel to Sofia with a break en-route in Istanbul.

I've tried every agent I can think of in the hopes of finding a way to reserve a cabin as its a long journey to discover that it is sold out (although I guess that is somewhat unlikely given the potential for bus substitution). Any thoughts?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Hej!

Sorry, the Bosfor currently is operated with replacement buses on the following parts of its route:
Gorna Orjahovitsa to Kapikule, then again from Kapikule to Istanbul
This is due to extensive construction works in both Bulgaria and Turkey which are said to last well into 2015. However, detailed information as how long the construction works last in each country are very hard to get and also change from time to time.
At this moment there should be no sleeper/couchette cars running in the Bosphor at all since it only runs from Bucharest to Gorna Orjahovitsa...if you want to travel by sleeper you will have to wait probably at least until December 2015, the current date of end of works in Turkey. :|


Flo 8)

LairdCamster
Traveller
2 comments

Not the best news the train still shows as compulsory reservation so I might be willing to risk snoozing in a chair but it would be nice to have a reservation to accompany a Balkan rail pass.
Any idea on what bus substitution applies on the Istanbul-Sofia route?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

No reservation needed as no couchette/sleeper cars are used - the overnight parts are fully covered by the replacement buses and I was told at the ticket desk in Plovdiv last week that you do not need a reservation.
On Sofia - Istanbul, buses operate from Yabalkovo (a few stops behind Plovdiv at around 2200) to Kapikule and from there to Istanbul.

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

Any changes on the bus headache trip?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Hey,
no news for now.

Flo 8)

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

I thought it was done by december?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Nah...I heard about the train running again end of January but unless there is definitive confirmation or a first hand report I'd not rely on that. ;)

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

Maybe we should call the romanian central station in buchuresti?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Nah, call TCDD. ;)

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

Any 1 heard any news. Theres train from Halkali all the way to Bucuresti? Would be awesome to get it confirmed?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

The most recent info I have is from a trip about two weeks ago suggested that it is bus Istanbul - Kapikule (with no connecting service into Bulgaria so they got into Sofia just around 1500 in the afternoon but I dont know if this was a particular problem that night or if it is a general issue at the moment).

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

So train frim kapikule onwards?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

That is the info I have, yes.

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Latest info: Replacement bus Kapikule - Istanbul at least until end of 2015... :(

CesarAli
Traveller
37 comments

So there is no bussing through Bulgaria? For sure? That is awesome! How did u get hold of that info?

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Sources: Travel reports from other railway related forums. :)

NaomiHogan
Traveller
3 comments

Any updates on this route? Can you get all the way from Bucharest to Istanbul without being constantly changed to buses?

NaomiHogan
Traveller
3 comments

Hi there, Ive read that this route has many bus sections on the over nighter. I have also read somewhere that construction should be finished in June 2017. I want to go from Bucharest to Istanbul on the over night train, late July 2017. Can anyone tell me if this is going to be possible?

Thanks in advance

Naomi

Flo
Traveller
10723 comments

Hi Naomi,

since February the night train from Sofia to Istanbul once again runs all the way to Istanbul. However it terminates at Halkali station, in a suburb of Istanbul. From Halkali to Sirkeci station in the city centre a shuttle bus is available.
If you are coming from Bucharest you currently have to change trains en route; however in July there will be a direct train once again. Read more in the blog: [ux]https://rail.cc/blog/bucharest-sofia-istanbul-train/[/ux]

Flo

NaomiHogan
Traveller
3 comments

Thanks Flo :)