The Japanese prefer train’s sleeper cars
Güncelleme Tarihi:
Anatolia News Agency
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Nisan 28, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - One of the easiest and most relaxed ways to travel between Ankara and Istanbul is by train. Ankara Express has carried more than 77,000 passengers between the two cities, nearly 65,000 of them Japanese, according to the Anatolia News Agency.
The route is popular for Japanese travelers because Ankara Express trains have sleeper cars, which are not used in Japan any more since they changed their trains to high-speed trains.
"It’s for nostalgia," said Kikuko Naka, 58. "The trains here remind me of the wagons with beds that used to be in Japan. I really prefer to travel on a train with a bed."
Foreigners make up 83 percent of passengers on the Ankara Express train that travels between the capital and Haydarpaşa Station, the historic station on the Asian side of Turkey’s biggest city, and 95 percent of the foreigners are from Japan.
Ahmet Kaplan Tan, a tour operator from Dorak Tourism Company said Japanese tourists place special requests to travel by train between Ankara and Istanbul. He said sleeper cars are not operating in Japan anymore so they prefer Ankara Express when they come to Turkey for vacations to fulfill their longings.
A good memory
"Over the last few years with the changing technology Japan changed its system to fast trains. We even cannot see the view from the windows and we can’t relax," said Naka. "Since we are in Turkey, we wanted to travel on a train with a sleeper car. In Japan we have buses and airplanes but no trains with beds. Traveling with Ankara Express will be a good memory for us." said Naka and added that in Japan because they wanted trains to be more luxurious they removed the wagons with beds.
"I read the book ’Orient Express’ by Agatha Christie and I’m now so excited to ride on this train," said Katsuhiko Naka, 60.
"The first time I was here, I didn’t get to ride on the Ankara Express. So there was no way I was going to miss it this time," said Junko Higuchi, 64.
Giving a flower to one of the Japanese passengers traveling to Istanbul, Deputy Manager of Ankara Station Hasan Doğan said Japanese prefer Turkish State Railways, or TCDD, because the service is good and quality. "The live nostalgic moments in Turkey by taking the Ankara Express train," Doğan said.
The train, which departs from both Ankara and Haydarpaşa stations at 10:30 p.m., travels 567 kilometers in 9.5 hours. There are 10 compartments and 10 sleeper cars that have two beds each. The train has a restaurant and capacity for 200 passengers. Each sleeper car has air conditioning, a mini bar and a sink. There is also room service for the sleeper compartments via a small service cart.
"It’s for nostalgia," said Kikuko Naka, 58. "The trains here remind me of the wagons with beds that used to be in Japan. I really prefer to travel on a train with a bed."
Foreigners make up 83 percent of passengers on the Ankara Express train that travels between the capital and Haydarpaşa Station, the historic station on the Asian side of Turkey’s biggest city, and 95 percent of the foreigners are from Japan.
Ahmet Kaplan Tan, a tour operator from Dorak Tourism Company said Japanese tourists place special requests to travel by train between Ankara and Istanbul. He said sleeper cars are not operating in Japan anymore so they prefer Ankara Express when they come to Turkey for vacations to fulfill their longings.
A good memory
"Over the last few years with the changing technology Japan changed its system to fast trains. We even cannot see the view from the windows and we can’t relax," said Naka. "Since we are in Turkey, we wanted to travel on a train with a sleeper car. In Japan we have buses and airplanes but no trains with beds. Traveling with Ankara Express will be a good memory for us." said Naka and added that in Japan because they wanted trains to be more luxurious they removed the wagons with beds.
"I read the book ’Orient Express’ by Agatha Christie and I’m now so excited to ride on this train," said Katsuhiko Naka, 60.
"The first time I was here, I didn’t get to ride on the Ankara Express. So there was no way I was going to miss it this time," said Junko Higuchi, 64.
Giving a flower to one of the Japanese passengers traveling to Istanbul, Deputy Manager of Ankara Station Hasan Doğan said Japanese prefer Turkish State Railways, or TCDD, because the service is good and quality. "The live nostalgic moments in Turkey by taking the Ankara Express train," Doğan said.
The train, which departs from both Ankara and Haydarpaşa stations at 10:30 p.m., travels 567 kilometers in 9.5 hours. There are 10 compartments and 10 sleeper cars that have two beds each. The train has a restaurant and capacity for 200 passengers. Each sleeper car has air conditioning, a mini bar and a sink. There is also room service for the sleeper compartments via a small service cart.