Comments on: Midnight Express: Iran to Turkey by Train

By: Mike Frain

Mike Frain — Sat, 10 Dec 2022 00:44:59 +0000

I took this train trip from Teheran to Istanbul in fall of 1971, a return trip overland both ways from Germany to India and then back to England. I suspect things have changed a bit since the days of the “Hippie Trail” some of us took.

By: Mihls

Mihls — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 15:06:12 +0000

In reply to Mark Massey.

Hi Mark,
I took the train in that region too but from Istanbul to Teheran, Tabriz, Meshed and Afghanistan in 1970 but my memory eludes me a bit as to if the train connected all the way from Istanbul to Teheran back then or if there were other connections on that last stretch from the Turkish- Iranian border to Teheran. Would you know anything about that?
It is part of a memoir project, which is why I am trying to find these details. Thank you!

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Wed, 30 Oct 2019 14:39:44 +0000

In reply to Mark Massey. Wow, that must have been such an incredible experience. 5 days instead of 3? Our train was a bit delayed, but nothing like that! I'm afraid I don't know when the first run of this train was to Tehran.

By: Mark Massey

Mark Massey — Sun, 18 Aug 2019 20:28:30 +0000

I took the train from Istanbul to Tehran in 1972 and I believe it was the first run after the last leg of train track had been laid. We were told it would be a 3 day train ride but it actually ended up taking 5 days. Some attributed this delays to it being the first trip and there were some rock slides. I was wandering it it was the first full run to Tehran. Do you know when the first run was?

By: Audrey Scott

Audrey Scott — Sat, 25 Mar 2017 10:29:43 +0000

In reply to Onur Uysal.

Hi Onur,
Not a problem to include a link to our post from your site and use one of the photos. Hope it helps others enjoy the same train journey from Tehran/Tabriz to Istanbul!
Cheers,
Audrey

By: Onur Uysal

Onur Uysal — Sat, 11 Mar 2017 00:33:08 +0000

Dear Daniel and Audrey,

I’m gathering all about Turkish trains at Rail Turkey Travel, and would like to give link to your post about Tehran train by quoting a few words, using one photo and giving link to this post.

Hope this is ok with you.

Thanks in advance.

Onur U.

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Fri, 04 Sep 2015 14:16:05 +0000

In reply to Levi. Thanks for your thoughtful compliment, Levi. That was our aim -- to make it real, and also to do justice to the experience. Glad we could bring you into the train car with us!

By: Levi

Levi — Mon, 31 Aug 2015 20:00:04 +0000

I do not normally leave any comments for any web/blog posts, even when I found them very useful. But your post is extremely remarkable! They way you share story, it’s just downright real! As if we are in front of you with set of cameras shooting every bit of scene throughout your journey 🙂 Love it!

Cheers!

Levi (instagram : princerelevi)

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Thu, 30 Apr 2015 12:16:48 +0000

One of our readers asked a question that I thought was relevant to this article and thread: “How can I go from Iran to Antalya by train and how far is it? From there how can I go to Istanbul?”

The train we took to Istanbul originated inTehran. We picked it up at Tabriz and entered over the border with Turkey. One possibility is to take that train from Iran and get off either in Van/Lake Van or Ankara, then catch other transport from those locations to Antalya. To return to Istanbul from anywhere within Turkey, a train might be possible, but buses are always available.

By: Daniel Noll

Daniel Noll — Sat, 19 Apr 2014 13:21:30 +0000

In reply to Michael - TTC. This trip and experience is in good company. As a form of transport, trains definitely add to the sense of adventure.