Türkiye, UK: A protocol on cooperation has been signed between the general director of the state-owned rolling stock manufacturer, Mr Selim Koçbay, and the British ambassador to Ankara, Ms Jill Morris.
The British side is stated to be providing technical support, in particular assisting with the design of the locomotive, as well as the development of power electronics and energy management systems.
Türasaş itself will play the central role in the project. The prototype locomotive is to be produced at its plant in Eskişehir. “This is a research and development project, and all rights will belong to Türasaş”, said Türkiye’s minister of transport and infrastructure, Mr Abdulkadir Uraloğlu.
Ceremony for signing the cooperation protocol to develop a hydrogen locomotive between Türkiye and the United Kingdom. Source: iha
Türkiye is currently actively developing its own fleet of traction rolling stock. In 2024, Türasaş launched series production of its first in-house designed electric locomotives, the E5000. The company is also currently developing a new range of six-axle locomotives, which are intended to become the most powerful in the country.
It is worth noting that Britain already has experience of converting a diesel locomotive to hydrogen traction. Such a project was implemented last year by Vanguard STS, a subsidiary of the University of Birmingham. On the locomotive, which was named HydroShunter, the diesel engine was replaced by an 80 kW hydrogen fuel cell supplied by Japan’s Toyota and 230 kW⋅h lead-acid batteries. Trial operation of HydroShunter has recently begun, after which the locomotive is expected to be certified.
