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Taurus Express

Page history last edited by Michael 10 months, 4 weeks ago

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First-class Pullman accommodation in Europe averages 4.5d per mile traveled, plus 15s - 20s per night for sleeping berth. 3d per mile for second-class, plus 10s - 12s per night for sleeping berth. Third class is about 1.5d per mile, plus 6s per night for sleeping berth.

London to Istanbul first-class fare is about £35 ($171); dinners cost about 10s each. Second class tickets, not available at all times, are £25 ($121); second-class dinners are about 7s.

Sleeping car service began on the Taurus Express in 1930. Slow and somewhat notorious for delays and interruptions. Wagons-Lit operates the kitchen, dining cars and sleepers; 2nd and 3rd class coaches are provided by the Turkish state railways and various local railways.

The private coach of President Mustafa Kemal is sometimes attached to the Taurus Express, especially for the section between Istanbul and Ankara.

*p.m. times in italics*
	day	arrive	depart	notes
Istanbul	A	--	9:40	from Haydarpasa Terminal, on Tuesday, Thursday, Sunday
Izmir	A	~6:00	~6:30
Eskigehir	A	~2:45	~3:00	connection to Ankara, meet with inbound Taurus Express
Ankara	A	~8:00	--
Adana	B	~12:00	~2:00	connection to Alexandretta
Alexandretta	C	~6:00	--
Aleppo	C	~8:00	~9:00	connection to Baghdad, Basrah, and Tehran; and Tripoli (dep. 8:30 am)
Tripoli	C	~4:00	--
Damascus	C	8:06	~9:00	change to narrow gauge Hejaz Railway
Beirut	D	~1:00	~1:30
Haifa	D	~6:00	~8:00	change to standard gauge railway
Jerusalem	D	~11:00	~11:30
Kantara	D	~9:00	~9:30	crossing the Suez Canal by ferry
Cairo	E	1:30	--	at Misr Station, on Saturday, Monday, Wednesday

	day	arrive	depart	notes
Cairo	A	--	4:30	from Misr Station, on Thursday, Saturday, Monday
Kantara	A	~8:30	9:00	crossing the Suez Canal by ferry
Jerusalem	A	~6:30	~7:00
Haifa	A	~10:00	~12:00	change to narrow gauge Hejaz Railway
Beirut	B	~4:30	~5:00
Damascus	B	~9:00	~10:00	change to standard gauge railway
Aleppo	B	~8:45	~9:45	connection to Baghdad, Basrah, and Tehran; and Tripoli (dep. 9:15 pm)
Tripoli	C	~4:45	--
Adana	C	~3:45	~5:45	connection to Alexandretta
Alexandretta	C	~9:00	--
Eskigehir	E	~2:45	~3:00	connection to Ankara, meet with outbound Taurus Express
Ankara	E	~8:00	--
Izmir	E	~11:00	~11:30
Istanbul	E	~8:00	--	at Haydarpasa Terminal, arriving on Monday, Wednesday, Friday