Turkiye: The state-owned manufacturer has commenced production of 95 E5000 mainline locomotives at its Eskisehir plant under a contract with the national operator TCDD, signed last week.
The 5 MW Bo-Bo locomotive, which can operate at speeds of up to 140 km/h, has been developed by TÜBİTAK RUTE, a rail transport technologies institute. The vehicle has recently been certified as compliant with the Technical Specifications for Interoperability adopted by a European directive, following successful testing.
At the ceremony of signing the contract between Türasaş and TCDD at the Eskisehir site. Source: TÜBİTAK RUTE
At the signing ceremony, Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu stated that the localisation rate should increase to 85% during the expansion of serial production of these locomotives. The project involves 115 component manufacturers, which will reportedly supply domestic engines, traction converters, transformers, bodies, and control systems for the E5000 locomotive.
Attendees of the signing ceremony in the cab of the domestically designed E5000 electric locomotive at the Eskisehir site. Source: TÜBİTAK RUTE
Türasaş has recently inaugurated a 10,500 m² site in Sivas, Turkiye. The new site is expected to produce 4,600 bogies and 9,200 wheelsets annually for all types of domestically manufactured passenger and freight rolling stock.
All these activities are a part a strategy Turkey is currently implementing to boost national production. Among others are production of domestically made E44000 regional electric trains by Türasaş since 2023. These trains are a basis for the 225 km/h EMU currently under development. Additionally, the company has developed a diesel engine in cooperation with TÜBİTAK RUTE.
