Railway luxury, typified by flower arrangements, white tablecloths and enticing refreshments, await passengers on the Eastern Express for its epic journey across Turkey's snow-capped Euphrates plateaus. All photos: AFP
Its nine carriages wind their way around mountain bends on a 32-hour, 1,300-kilometre journey from Turkey's capital Ankara to Kars, an ancient city near Turkey's border with Armenia and Georgia.
"It is really a very special moment for me and my family," says Zulan-Nour Komurcu, 26, who is celebrating her birthday with them on board.
The train runs twice a week from December 30 to March 31 to make the most of the snow-covered landscapes. Its route is a miniature version of Russia's Trans-Siberian railway, says engineer Fatih Yalcin.
The train was designed for the sheer joy of travelling through spectacular but hard-to-access provinces such as Kayseri, Sivas, Erzincan and Erzurum.
Lawyer Yoruk Giris, 38, holds a party on the Eastern Express "We prepared a lot," he said.
Passengers in their decoration festooned compartment on the Eastern Express. The service was suspended less than a year after starting because of the coronavirus pandemic. But with restrictions easing, the sleeper is back.
The train brings together an array of Turkish society – and although relatively pricey, tickets are snapped up in minutes
In Erzurum, the last stop before Kars, at an altitude of 1,945 metres, passengers perform a traditional dance on the frozen platform, with backing from a tea vendor's radio.
The station's thermometer shows minus 11C but there's a warm atmosphere around the train.
The Eastern Express makes its way through a winter wonderland.
