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The Marmaray is an undersea rail tunnel connecting the Asian and European sides of Istanbul under the Bosphorus Strait, opened in 2013. It carries both commuter rail (Marmaray services) and connects the suburban rail networks on both sides. The 13.6 km tunnel section took 11 years to build due to Byzantine archaeological discoveries. A single Marmaray journey crosses two continents.

The Dogu Ekspresi (Eastern Express) runs 1,310 km from Ankara to Kars in northeastern Turkey near the Armenian border, taking around 24 jams. It passes through snow-covered Anatolian highlands and the historic Erzurum region. It became a viral social media phenomenon around 2017-2019 and tickets now sell out weeks in advance during winter.

TCDD YHT operates: Ankara-Istanbul (4h), Ankara-Konya (1h40m), Ankara-Eskisehir (1h15m), Ankara-Izmir (3h30m via Eskisehir), and Ankara-Sivas (2h). All depart from Ankara's main station. Istanbul HSR trains currently depart from Pendik (Asian side) or Halkali (European side); check your departure station carefully.

Foreign tourists can pesan tiket can also be purchased at station counters. Popular trains like the Eastern Express and Ankara-Istanbul HSR sell out quickly; book at least 2-3 weeks ahead.

No. Turkey is not part of the Eurail or Interrail scheme. Turkish train fares are very affordable without a pass -- a Ankara-Istanbul HSR ticket costs around TRY 300-500 (EUR 8-15 depending on exchange rate). Individual tickets are the standard booking method for all TCDD services.