Istanbul-Sofia express starts journeys

ANKARA

REUTERS photo

Turkey’s Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communication Minister Ahmet Arslan has announced that a new train line between Istanbul and Bulgaria’s capital Sofia will start its journeys on Feb. 20, state-run Anadolu Agency has reported.

Arslan said the construction works of the railway, which stands on 292 kilometers between Kapıkule and Istanbul, has been completed, adding that there was no need to extend the railway beyond these points.

“The decision to establish a new railway line was made with an agreement between Bulgarian railways and Turkey’s State Railways [TCDD]. The express will make journeys between Sofia and Istanbul every day. TCDD’s rolling stock will include two wagons, two wagon-lits and a couchette car,” he said.

Arslan stated that new lines connecting to Bucharest and Belgrade will be added in the summer.

“The train will start from the Halkalı district of Istanbul at 10:40 p.m. Another train will run its journey from Sofia at 9:00 p.m. The travel time will be approximately nine hours and 50 minutes,” he added.

Arslan said train services to and from Sofia and Istanbul will be in both directions.