Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Posted 15 years ago
[b]BELGRADE (Beograd) - ISTANBUL | night train (via SOFIA)[/b]
Information for Interrail, Eurail travellers and persons with normal train ticket travelling by night train from Belgrade (Serbia) to Istanbul (Turkey).
[b]The direct night train is currently suspended.[/b]
More information, schedules and photos at railcc:
[b]Belgrade - Istanbul[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/belgrade-to-istanbul[/u]
[b]Istanbul - Belgrade[/b]: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/istanbul-to-belgrade[/u]
[b]Older information:[/b]
[b]TIMETABLE:[/b]
[b]Beograd[/b] Dep: 0750
[b]Istanbul Sirkeci[/b] Arr: 0750 (next day)
[b]Istanbul Sirkeci[/b] Dep: 2200
[b]Beograd[/b] Arr: 1947 (next day)
[b]1-bed-sleeper[/b] (only 1st class)
Rail pass fare: EUR 60Standard fare: 145
[b]2-bed-sleeper[/b]
Rail pass fare: EUR 30
Standard fare: EUR 98
[b]3-bed-sleeper[/b]
Rail pass fare: EUR 18
Standard fare: EUR 85
[b]Couchette (4-berths)[/b]
Rail pass fare: EUR 14
Standard fare: EUR 65
[b]Couchette (6-berths)[/b]
Rail pass fare: EUR 9,40
Standard fare: EUR 60
[b]Update: Nov 2016[/b]
ShoRa
Traveller
29 comments
Till 11. june on this route runs one sleeping car with surcharge:
tourist /triple sleeper: 18 EUR
double: 30 EUR
single (1st class): 60 EUR
From 12. june there will be one couchete car, and no sleeping car. The price for the couchette is:
6 bed compartment: 9,40 EUR
4 bed compartment: 14 EUR
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi,
thanks for the update; do you know if this is a temporary measure or if sleeper and couchette change in summer and winter timetable?
Flo 8)
ShoRa
Traveller
29 comments
[quote]Hi,
thanks for the update; do you know if this is a temporary measure or if sleeper and couchette change in summer and winter timetable?
Flo 8) [/quote]
No, it is scheduled like that this year, and it was like that last year. Sleeper is served by ŽS, and couchette by TCDD. When ŽS is serving, sometimes direct car Belgrade - Istanbul is missing because there is a lack of sleeping cars, but sometimes there is also facultative ŽS couchette car (usually when ŽS sleeping car is missing). So it is smarter not to reserve in advance.
Biscuit
Traveller
14 comments
Havıng travelled on thıs route earlıer thıs week I'd lıke to add that you really need to go ın expectıng the worst!
The traın ıs VERY old and VERY slow. We actually broke down ın the mıddle of Serbıa and had to waıt for a replacement locomotıve whıch took THREE HOURS!!
In the hot sun, ın a statıonery traın wıth no aır condıtıonıng, ıt was a lıttle uncomfortable and most people got off the traın to wander about and fınd some shade.
Obvıously thıs won't happen every tıme, but as others have commented elsewhere the traın ıs often unrelıable and therefore late so do allow yourself plenty of tıme. The whole journey ended up takıng over THIRTY HOURS for us ın the end!
Luckıly everyone on board ın my carrıage took ıt well and we ended up makıng the best of ıt. A kındly conductor bought us four lıtres of beer whılst we stopped ın Sofıa, whıch certaınly helped the rest of the journey go a lıttle more smoothly! A few of us worrıed he had just run off wıth our money (fıve of us paıd one Euro each) but the guy came through and really helped make the experıence a whole lot more bearable.
My number one tıp however, would be to go to the toılet before you board because the facılıtıes on board are VERY basıc (just a hole ın the floor, no runnıng water and no toılet paper!)
You would also do well to stock up on food and drınk (especıally lots of water) because you're goıng to be on thıs traın for a LONG tıme and thıs ısn't Germany, where long dıstance traıns have comfortable bars and snack wagons.
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
That's why I love travelling in Eastern Europe and on this route as well !!! :)
It is always adventure, you meet nice people (travel companions and beer bringing conductors) and I am sure, you will always have this trip in your mind even in 10 years.
Like you said, it is not Germany - but it would be boring if everywhere in the world it is the same standard, everything in time (German trains also love delays). Enjoy it, relax and always have some beer with you. :)
That's Interrail! :)
Biscuit
Traveller
14 comments
Oh absolutely, I wouldn't change it for the world. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable journeys I've had so far!!
Just wanted to share my experience and offer up that being prepared before you go will make all the difference
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
And this is very helpful to get such information and experiences. Thank you. Didn't want to criticize your post. :)
maciek89
Traveller
1 comments
HI i want to go this train from belgrade to istanbul.can you teell me how much it will be cost.the cheapest ption??
Flo
Traveller
10724 comments
Hi!
Do you just want to travel this route or are you doing a longer (InterRail) trip?
The direct night train is suspended, you have to take this connection at the moment: [u]https://rail.cc/en/train/belgrade-to-istanbul[/u]
More information here: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/bucharest-sofia-istanbul-train/[/u]
Flo 8)
Peter
Traveller
9333 comments
Hi.
The direct train is currently suspended.
Please read this blog post of Flow for travel details: [u]https://rail.cc/blog/bucharest-sofia-istanbul-train/[/u]
Peter :)