ANKARA, March 12 (Xinhua) -- The first train from a Syrian city arrived in Turkey on Thursday night, the semi-official Anatolia news agency reported.

    The first train between the northwestern Syrian city of Aleppo and Turkey's southern city of Mersin stopped at Turkey's southern city of Adana on Thursday night, said the report, adding that Fikret Deniz, deputy governor of Adana, welcomed the passengers aboard the train.

    Deniz said that Turkey attached great importance to train transportation between Turkey and Syria, adding that the new train service would enliven trade and tourism between the two countries.

    The train left for Mersin later.

    The report said the Aleppo-Mersin train will make reciprocal voyages twice a week. It will take nine hours and 20 minutes to travel between the Turkish and Syrian cities.

    Consisting of five passenger cars and one dining car, the train can carry 260 passengers.