TCDD Train Ferries

Bosphorus crossing

The Bosphorus is considered to be the dividing line between Europe and Asia. Its width between Sirkeci and Haydarpaşa is only 2,2 nautical miles (4 km). But the rail connection between the two sides has always been weak.

No direct passenger car between the two stations has ever been done. Loaded goods wagon as well as occasional rolling stock transfer, including locomotives, use to be transferred on barge pushed by tugs. TCDD started a proper train ferry ship with link spans on both sides only in 1958. This new installation greatly eased the transfer of loaded wagons.

The first boat in 1958, the "Demiryolu", was 74m long and was steam operated. She could travel at a top speed of 11 knots. Since then additional boats have been put into service. All the boats have three parallel straight tracks that connect to a triple track link span.

As of 2006, these boats were still in operation but their futur is not at all certain: a rail tunnel under the Bosphorus is being built and it is foreseen that freight trains will be allowed through the tunnel. Perhaps, the ferries will be retained for hazardous cargo?

The ferry link span at Sirkeci, note disused ferry tracks to left. 2002 Photo Malcolm Peakman	The ferry link span at Sirkeci. 2002 Photo Malcolm Peakman
The ferry link span at Sirkeci. 2002 Photo Malcolm Peakman	E14001 to Gebze, Haydarpasa, 3 november 2000. Note the access track to train ferry on the right
Haydarpasa:A close up on the ferry acces track, 1997. photo Malcolm Peakman	Ferry "Demiryolu II" seen at Haydarpasa from the Bosphorus. 3 november 2000. Photo JP Charrey
Ferry "Demiryolu II" seen here approaching the quay at Haydarpasa. 3 november 2000. Photo JP Charrey	Ferry "Demiryolu", 3 november 2000. Photo JP Charrey

Van Lake crossing

Van Lake, the largest lake in Turkey, is roughly 80km wide and 120 km long. This lake is located in a mountainous area in Eastern Turkey and its average altitude is 1690m.

When the line to Van and Iran was built, it was deemed easier and cheaper to cross the lake by a ferry rather than built a line around the lake, through a mountainous terrain without a convenient pass.

Therefore, two train-ferry boats were carried over to the lake assembled locally with great difficulty. On the western side, a pier was established at Tatvan, at the end of the line of 334km from Elazıg. The eastern side pier is located in the city Van, were the railway line resumes to Iran border. The distance between the two pier is 90km. Crossing takes about 5 hours.

This ferry line started revenue earnings operation in 1971 and still operates as of 2006. However, traffic on this international line is very much dependant of the situation of Iran and the general situation in Middle East. In 2006, there is only a weekly passenger train to Iran using the ferry.

A study done in 1993 indicated that a line around the northern shore of the lake would be 237 km with 27 tunnels for a cumulative length of 12km, the longest tunnel being 2,1 km long.

Van Lake train ferry. Photo wikimol, 2005. Published on Wikipedia
Van Lake train ferry: Van terminal seen from the boat. 12 October 1985, Photo Pierre Birgé.	Van Lake train ferry: rear view of ferry Orhan Atliman and the link span. 12 October 1985, Photo Pierre Birgé.