Because the rail
line east of Istanbul is closed for
work to upgrade it for high-speed
train service,
and the rail line east of Elazığ is
also closed for maintenance, the Vangölü
Ekspresi (Lake Van
Express) now operates only between
Ankara and Elazığ three
days per week.
The train hauls reserved
and unreserved compartment cars,
a couchette
car, a sleeping
car and a dining car, usually
fairly old equipment—this is
not the most comfortable train.
It's also slow,
stopping at every station along the
way, taking hours to run a
route that an intercity bus covers
in much less.
