Local Turkiye

National trains to be produced: 2021 Presidential Annual Program

According to the compilation from the Presidential Annual Program of the Year 2021, rail system vehicles are widely preferred both in urban and intercity transportation because they provide a safe and comfortable travel opportunity and offer economic, efficient and environmentally focused opportunities in freight transportation. For this reason, investments in rail system vehicles on a global scale are increasing rapidly. Turkey increased public investments in railways and urban transport sector while the need for a towing and towed vehicle arose significantly. The vehicles used in the projects completed so far were procured from foreign-based companies.

2866 vehicles, 26 different vehicle types, from 12 companies have been imported considering subway and tram vehicles, over the last 30 years.

There is still a large stock of projects in the railway and urban transport sector. It is important to contribute to the country’s economy by preventing the flow of resources abroad, to develop the domestic rail system vehicle industry and the export of vehicles produced in the following stages.

TUVASAS, TULOMSAS and TUDEMSAS, Turkey Rail System Tools, carrying out their activities as subsidiaries of Turkish State Railways, combined under the umbrella of the General Directorate of Industry Inc. (TURASAS) for the design, producing, maintaining and repair of rail vehicles in Turkey, vernacularisation of critical subcomponents and increasing the local content.

TURASAS is expected to become a global manufacturer

Having the domestic and national production facilities of locomotives, multiple-unit trains and freight and passenger wagons, TURASAS aims to improve the R&D, design and production capabilities of the domestic industry, design, manufacture, maintain and repair all rail system vehicles and critical components.

With the approval of the President Erdogan, it was decided not to procure additional high-speed multiple-unit train from abroad, except for the high-speed multiple-unit trains, and to use the national electric multiple-unit trains produced by TURASAS in high-speed and high-speed train lines.

Within this framework, TURASAS is expected to rapidly develop the national railway industry and become a global manufacturer in the railway vehicles manufacturing industry.

While the diesel multiple-unit train is produced under the license of a foreign company within TURASAS, the knowledge gained from the project in question is used in the production of national electric multiple-unit train.

Factory tests of the national electric multiple-unit train started

The Aluminum Body Production Facility, capable of serving all rail system vehicles planned to be produced within the scope of the national electric multiple-unit train production works, was opened in 2019.

Within the scope of the national electric multiple-unit train production, the assembly of a prototype suitable for a speed of 160 kilometres per hour was completed and factory tests were started. By using the infrastructure and competence developed within the scope of the National Electric Multiple-unit Train Project, it is aimed to realize the National High-Speed ​​Train Project, which can reach a speed of 225 kilometres per hour, by providing the necessary design changes for the high-speed train lines of these multiple-unit trains.

The design and production studies of the national electric locomotive developed by TURASAS continue. While electric and diesel locomotives are produced under the license of a foreign company within TURASAS, the experience gained from these projects is planned to be used in the production of national electric locomotives.

The prototype production of the new generation 8-cylinder diesel engine with a minimum 1200 horsepower, which was started in 2018, continues. The export of new generation national freight wagons, whose design, certification and manufacturing processes have been completed by TURASAS, also continue.

Production of the national electric multiple-unit trains is expected to be completed in 2020

The Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, Turkish State Railways Inc. and TURASAS aim to complete the production of the national electric train series this year and start mass production, and to start mass production of the national electric locomotive and the prototype production of the national electric locomotive in 2022.

TUBITAK plans to coordinate the R&D activities of the national electric locomotive and to complete the development of critical components at the prototype level.

Completing the design work and starting prototype manufacturing in 2023 for the National High-Speed ​​Train Project, which is suitable for a speed of 225 kilometres per hour, are among the targets.

It is aimed to reach a level of 80 percent localization in all rail system vehicles, including metro and tram production in 2023. It is foreseen that a 60 percent domestic rate will be reached in the supply of rail system vehicles.

The design of the National Metro Project and the prototype production of the National Suburban Train Project in 2023 are also included in the program.

In addition, the National Rail Systems of quality and reliability level of domestic rail vehicles produced in Turkey in Eskisehir to serve at the national and international levels in order to ensure provision of continuity at Research and Test Centre will be completed by an independent building facility in which also the relevant institutes and research centres operating model will be implemented. The construction of this centre will be completed in a way to meet the needs of TURASAS.

source: AA/ translated by Melisa Karayusufoglu

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