I would like to travel by train to Istanbul via Budapest and Bucharest along the road recommended by the Man in Seat 61.
According to that description, there should be a daily direct train between Bucharest and Istanbul, leaving Gara de Nord at 12h30 and arriving at Sirkeci at 07h50 the next day. Currently, due to engineering works in Istanbul, the train is limited at Kapikule, on the border between Bulgaria and Turkey. A bus shuttle organised by the Turkish State Railways is supposed to bring the travelers from Kapikule to Istanbul.
All this looks fine. However, if I have a look the the DB Travel planner, such a service does not seem to exist. So as to be sure, I checked the site of the Romanian railways. To no avail.
Note that I found on the DB site a direct night train from Sofia to Istanbul. And a direct night train from Bucharest to Sofia. But this involves a stopover in Sofia of nearly 10 hours. I am aware of other (indirect) train connections and other means of transport.
Does the daily direct train between Bucharest and Istanbul still exist? If yes, what is the schedule? If no, has it been suspended temporarily or permanently?