Kurtalan (Misirç): The End of the Line
- Hojîn Rostam
- Jun 5
- 4 min read
Introduction
Kurtalan (Kurdish: Misirç) is a Kurdish town in Siirt Province in south-eastern Turkey, best known as the far end of the country’s railway. For decades the long train from the west — the celebrated Kurtalan Express — has ended its journey here, making this modest town the gateway by rail into the deep Kurdish south-east. Around the railway, Kurtalan has grown into a busy market town of the Siirt country.
A town defined by the line that reaches it, Kurtalan tells a story of how the railway tied the Kurdish region to the rest of the country. This profile looks at the town, its railway, and its setting.
Key Takeaways
• Kurtalan (Kurdish: Misirç) is a Kurdish town in Siirt Province, south-eastern Turkey.
• It is the south-eastern terminus of the Turkish railway network.
• The famous Kurtalan Express train runs from the west of the country to the town.
• The railway shaped Kurtalan’s growth into a busy market town.
• It lies in the Kurdish country near Siirt and Batman.
Quick Facts
Name (Kurdish): Misirç
Name (Turkish): Kurtalan
Country / Region: Turkey (Bakur)
Province: Siirt
Famous For: The railway terminus
Train: The Kurtalan Express
Role: Gateway by rail to the south-east
Economy: Trade, transport, and farming
Contents
Where Is Kurtalan?
Kurtalan lies in the west of Siirt Province, in the Kurdish south-east of Turkey, between the city of Siirt and Batman, not far from the country around Bitlis. Set on the plains and low hills where the rivers of the region gather toward the Tigris, it sits at a natural crossing point — which is exactly why the railway was brought here.
The End of the Line
Kurtalan’s fame rests on a simple fact: it is where the railway stops. The line that runs across Turkey from the great cities of the west reaches its south-eastern end at Kurtalan, making this town the last station and the rail gateway into the deep Kurdish south-east. For a region long short of good roads, the arrival of the railway in the twentieth century was a major event, connecting Siirt and its hinterland to distant markets, cities, and opportunities.
The Kurtalan Express
The town has given its name to one of Turkey’s well-known trains, the Kurtalan Express, which has long carried passengers on the long journey between the western cities and this far south-eastern terminus. For generations of Kurds from the region, the train has been a lifeline — the way to travel west for work, study, or family, and the way home again. The slow, rolling journey of the Kurtalan Express became part of the shared experience of the south-east, and it keeps the town’s name familiar far beyond Siirt.
A Town Built by the Railway
Kurtalan grew up around its station. What had been a small settlement expanded into a busy town as the railway brought traffic, trade, and people, and the rhythms of arrivals and departures shaped its life. Around the transport hub developed the markets, workshops, and services of a regional centre, serving the farms and villages of the surrounding country. The railway gave Kurtalan both its name and its purpose.
Kurtalan Today
Today Kurtalan remains a busy Kurdish town and the south-eastern end of the railway, still receiving the long train from the west and still serving as a market and transport centre for its part of Siirt Province. Roads have grown alongside the rails, but the town keeps its identity as the place where the line runs out — the end of the track in the Kurdish south-east.
Timeline
20th century — The railway is extended to Kurtalan, making it the south-eastern terminus.
mid-20th century — The Kurtalan Express links the town to the cities of the west.
through the decades — Kurtalan grows into a busy market and transport town.
modern times — Road and rail together serve the Siirt region through Kurtalan.
today — Kurtalan remains the end of the line in the Kurdish south-east.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kurtalan’s Kurdish name?
In Kurdish the town is known as Misirç.
Why is Kurtalan famous?
Kurtalan is famous as the south-eastern terminus of the Turkish railway and as the namesake of the Kurtalan Express train.
What is the Kurtalan Express?
The Kurtalan Express is a long-running train that travels between the western cities of Turkey and the town of Kurtalan, the end of the line in the Kurdish south-east.
Where is Kurtalan?
Kurtalan is a town in the west of Siirt Province in south-eastern Turkey, between Siirt and Batman.
Related People, Places, and Topics
References and Further Reading
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