TURKEY: National operator TCDD Taşımcılık took delivery of locomotives, multiple-units, a battery shunter and wagons including an emergency vehicle produced by state-owned manufacturer Türasaş during a ceremony presided over by Minister of Transport & Infrastructure Abdülkadir Uraloğlu on May 30.
This included the first five E5000 electric locomotives. A further 15 are to be delivered this year, 30 in 2026 and 45 in 2027. The EU TSI-compliant 5 MW loco is designed to haul freight and passenger services at up to 140 km/h.
Two E44000 National Electric Train multiple-units were also handed over, meaning five of the 22 ordered have now been delivered. The rest are to arrive by the end of 2026. The first set was delivered in April 2023 following the completion of 10 000 km of test running, and is in use between Adapazarı and Gebze on the Ankara – Istanbul main line.
The E44000 has around 65% domestic content, with the traction motors, transformer, transmission and control and train management systems all supplied by defence manufacturer Aselsan.
The trains are designed to operate at up to 176 km/h, although the current operating speed is restricted to 160 km/h.
It was originally planned that they would operate at up to 225 km/h, but development of a National High Speed Train was initiated as a separate project. Uraloğlu said production of the faster trains began in February, and 14 are to be delivered in 2026-28. They be up to eight cars long, with a capacity of up to 584 passengers.
Türasaş has also handed over two 700T battery powered shunters. Manufacturing began earlier this year following the completion of development work, and six more are currently being built. Uraloğlu said the zero-emission shunters would be more environmentally friendly than diesel alternatives, and boasting lower operating and maintenance costs.
Also handed over was a fire fighting and rescue wagon designed for rapid intervention, especially in incidents involving flammable hydrocarbons. It can carry 92 tonnes of water, equivalent to 42 road fire appliances, and 4 m3 of fire retardant foam compound, the equivalent of 20 fire engines.
Türasaş has also delivered 55 Rilnss wagons with hoods to protect weather sensitive loads. The 27 tonne wagons have a load capacity of 63 tonnes and are certified to TSI, EN and UIC standards for international operation.
