Hi!
Anybody here ever been on a Turkish train? The consensus seems to be that the bus is "better," but other than being faster, I can't really figure out why. I'm trying to decide between a 12 hour bus trip between Istanbul and Denizli/Pamukkale and a 15 hour overnight train trip in a sleeper, which I think I greatly prefer, but my travel partner is not convinced, since we've heard lots of mostly-unsubstantiated denigration of the Turkish rail system.
I'd love some first-hand experience to help us decide. What do you think?
Crossposted to World Travelers.
Anybody here ever been on a Turkish train? The consensus seems to be that the bus is "better," but other than being faster, I can't really figure out why. I'm trying to decide between a 12 hour bus trip between Istanbul and Denizli/Pamukkale and a 15 hour overnight train trip in a sleeper, which I think I greatly prefer, but my travel partner is not convinced, since we've heard lots of mostly-unsubstantiated denigration of the Turkish rail system.
I'd love some first-hand experience to help us decide. What do you think?
Crossposted to World Travelers.
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SF Bay Area
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Re: Turkish trains?
Thu, May 8, 2008 - 3:04 PMi was there for three months and it's not so much that the train system is bad, but that the bus system is so good.
it's just really developed. it's what the turks use to get around. it goes everywhere. it's comfortable, clean, modern, and not very expensive. they serve tea. they stop for lunch. -
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Re: Turkish trains?
Thu, May 8, 2008 - 3:05 PMbut i didn't take the train so i don't know how bad it might be. but the buses were a pleasure compared to many other places i've been, MUCH better than greyhound for instance.
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Re: Turkish trains?
Thu, May 8, 2008 - 4:11 PMSleeper cars are horrendous! Six people packed in a closet (a cabin about 6'x6').
I'd say save yourself some grief and lost sleep and take the day trip by bus -
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Re: Turkish trains?
Fri, May 9, 2008 - 9:26 AMActually, the sleeper we're looking at is a private 2-berth room on one of the newer trains, not one of the old-school couchettes. So it'll just be my wife and me stuffed into this particular closet.
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