Dostluk/Filia Express

Dostluk/Filia Express
Overview
Service type InterCity
Status Terminated
Locale European Turkey, northern Greece
First service July 2005
Last service 2011-02-12
Current operator(s) TCDD, TrainOSE
Route
Start Sirkeci Terminal, Istanbul
No. of intermediate stops 10
End Thessaloniki Rail Station, Thessaloniki
Average journey time 13h03' (westbound),
12h19' (eastbound)
Service frequency Daily each way
Train number(s) 444/445, 81021/81022
On-board services
Sleeping arrangements 5 TCDD Sleepers, 3 OSE Sleepers
Catering facilities yes
Technical
Gauge 1,435 mm (4 ft 8 12 in)
Electrification Istanbul to Pehlivankoy
Track owner(s) TCDD Istanbul-Hudut
OSE Pythion-Thessaloniki
Legend
00:00 Istanbul Sirkeci
Alpullu
Pehlivanköy
04:05 Uzunköprü
Turkish - Greek Border
05:18 Pythion
07:39 Alexandroupolis
08:38 Komotini
09:10 Xanthi
10:26 Drama
11:18 Serres
Rodopolis
12:39 Kilkis
13:03 Thessaloniki (ΝΕΣΘ)

The Dostluk or Filia Express (Turkish: Dostluk Ekspresi, Greek: Εξπρές Φιλίας), was an international InterCity train jointly operated by the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) and TrainOSE S.A. from July 2005 to February 2011, linking Istanbul's Sirkeci Terminal, Turkey and Thessaloniki, Greece. Eastbound trains (service 444/81021) departed daily at 19:48 from Thessaloniki arriving to Istanbul at 08:07. Westbound trains (service 81022/445) departed at 20:30 from Istanbul, arriving to Thessaloniki at 09:33.[1]

There were two trains on this service, one provided by TrainOSE and the other by TCDD. TrainOSE used OSE former SNCF type T2 sleeping cars while TCDD used TVS2000 type cars. The trains changed locomotives at Pythion railway station.

This train service was terminated on February 13, 2011.[2] This is due to cost cutting by Greek state-owned company TrainOSE.[3]

References

  1. ^ http://www.turkeytravelplanner.com/trans/Train/dostluk_filia_sked.html
  2. ^ TCDD: "02/13/2011 (inclusive) From the date of DOSTLUK/FILIA EXPRESS trains will be canceled until further notice" [1]
  3. ^ Greece severs international links, International Railway Journal, March, 2011

External links