03.08.2026 21:00
A new era will begin in intercity bus transportation as of November. The express service model applied on the Istanbul-Izmir route will now be implemented on the Istanbul-Ankara route. It is aimed to shorten the travel time with buses that will not stop at intermediate stops.
The "express service" application in intercity bus transportation is becoming widespread.
NON-STOP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN TWO CITIES
After being tested on the Istanbul-Izmir route, the system will also be put into use on the Istanbul-Ankara route as of November 2026. In express services, buses will not stop at passenger boarding and alighting points along the route. Thus, by skipping stops such as Kocaeli, Sakarya, Duzce, Bolu, Beypazari and Polatli, uninterrupted transportation will be provided between the two cities.
PASSENGERS WILL CHOOSE BETWEEN TWO OPTIONS
With the new regulation, companies will operate both classic and express services on the same route. In addition to buses that pick up passengers at intermediate stops, services providing direct transportation will also be offered for ticket sales. According to the initial plan, a significant portion of existing services will be converted to the express model. Thus, passengers will be able to choose based on their need for speed or intermediate stops.
THE GOAL IS TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE IN COMPETITION WITH THE YHT
The ever-increasing influence of the Istanbul-Ankara High-Speed Train line over the years has been decisive in this step taken by bus companies. Aiming to reduce travel time, companies intend to regain an advantage against the YHT by offering faster transportation.
IT WILL FIRST BE IMPLEMENTED BY A LIMITED NUMBER OF COMPANIES
The new system will initially be implemented by certain bus companies. If it receives the expected interest, it is anticipated that the application will be expanded to other companies as well.