From: My Epic Train Journey

The Dogu Express

November 25–26, 2022

All images by the author, unless otherwise noted.
Read about my stay in Erzurum here.

I had heard about the Dogu (Eastern) Express many years ago and finally I was able to book a berth on the popular (even in winter) train. I had not ridden an overnight train for a few years and was looking forward to this one. I was also hoping to see some snow in the higher elevations.

The Dogu Express runs from Kars in far Eastern Turkey to Ankara in Central Turkey. It is a slow train and the entire trip takes over 24 hours. I joined the train in Erzurum. I had tried the previous summer to take this train, but the tickets sold out as fast as they were offered online. Now, in the low season, I was able to reserve a bed in a four-berth cabin for the very affordable 197 Lira (about $10.70 USD at the time). I would be sharing with three other women who I had yet to meet.

When I first boarded, I had the cabin to myself. But I knew that others would probably join as we moved west. Soon after the train pulled from the station, a young woman, Summeye, joined me…