Turkish officials review complaints over 'sold-out' Eastern Express

ANKARA

Turkish officials have started to review applications from the citizens who complained that they could not find tickets for the famed Eastern Express.

The 24-hour sleeper service has been running for decades, linking western Turkish cities to the Kars province in the country's far east.

The line’s success has been driven in recent years thanks to Turkey’s high number of Instagram users, who have made the journey a social media phenomenon. The demand for the scenic journey doubled in recent years and some 400,000 passengers took the Eastern Express in 2018.

According to private news agency İHA's report on Feb. 9, Turkey's official Ombudsman started a review of complaints it received from citizens this year.

Some applicants complained that the Eastern Express tickets are sold-out instantly as people spend days and nights to get one when the tickets become unexpectably available online.

Public officials should announce the exact timing of the sale for the next train's tickets, one complainant argued, claiming that the ongoing scheme is a "violation of public transparency and freedom to travel."

Those who could get a ticket for the train, which features seated coaches, couchette coaches and sleeping coaches with toilets, a minibar and a table, can admire the picturesque views of nature on the route from Ankara to Kars.