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Sofia - Istanbul Express counts as one day or two?

  • 14 March 2023
  • 2 replies
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Hi Everyone, 

With my friend, we want to travel with the Sofia - Istanbul express night train. We have a question related to the number of travels days. In fact, during this night train, there are two correspondences : one in bulgaria (plovdiv) and one in Turquey. So, this travel count for 1 or 2 days of travel with the global pass interrail ? 

 

Thanks for your answers. 

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Best answer by rvdborgt 14 March 2023, 18:04

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Userlevel 7
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According to the man in seat 61 it is a direct train from Sofia to Istanbul so should only take one travel day. I assume you will not be moving compartments at these correspondences.

https://www.seat61.com/trains-and-routes/bucharest-and-sofia-to-istanbul-by-train.htm

As long as you can book a reservation that shows it as a direct train you will be able to add it to your pass as a single journey. Night trains often have stops where they change locomotives and/or crews and even shuffle coaches for varying destinations.

For clarity the travel day rules are that you can board as many trains as you like with a scheduled departure time between 0000 and 2359 on a travel day, including overnight trains. However if you transfer trains after 2359 then you need a new travel day for any onward trains.

Userlevel 7
Badge +9

Sofia-Istanbul is a direct train, so you only need 1 travel day. If the app doesn't show it as a direct train, and lets you change after midnight, then enter it manually.

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