Turkey resumes Touristic Eastern Express line after COVID suspension

KARS, Turkey

Turkey's Touristic Eastern Express train line will resume as of Wednesday after being suspended due to coronavirus restrictions in the country.

The Touristic Eastern Express offers passengers an unforgettable 25-hour journey with picturesque views all along the route.

It was put into service by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) in 2019 in order to meet the increasing demand as well as contributing to domestic tourism in the country.

The eastbound train runs 1,310 kilometers (814 miles) between the capital Ankara and Kars, passing by provinces like Kirikkale, Sivas, Erzincan and Erzurum.

When the train arrives at its last stop, Kars, passengers will have the opportunity to see historic places such as the Kars Castle, the ancient city of Ani, which was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2016, and Caucasian Front War History Museum.

Visitors will also enjoy walking or sleighing over the frozen Lake Cildir, located between Ardahan and Kars provinces.

Lake Cildir, the second-largest lake in eastern Anatolia, freezes every year as temperatures drop below zero.

When its thickness reaches a certain level, it also attracts fishing enthusiasts who get a chance to indulge in ice fishing like Eskimos.

Tourists can also enjoy skiing at the Cebiltepe ski center in the Sarıkamis district of Kars, or the Yalnizcam ski center in Ardahan.

Kars Provincial Culture and Tourism Director Hayrettin Cetin told Anadolu Agency that interest in the train journey has exceeded expectations.

"Passengers are having difficulty in finding tickets right now," he said.

"There has been a significant increase in the number of visitors to our city, and it continues to increase," he added.

* Writing by Iclal Turan in Istanbul.