TCDD E44000, also referred to as the "National Electric Train" (Turkish: "Milli Elektrikli Tren") by the media, is a model of electric trainset produced by TÜVASAŞ (now under TÜRASAŞ) for TCDD Taşımacılık. Trains started to be delivered to the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) on 27 April 2023.[1]

TCDD E44000
A production unit parked at Bakırköy station.
In service2023–present
ManufacturerTÜRASAŞ
DesignerTÜRASAŞ
Entered service2023
Number built3
Capacity324 (5 car)
OperatorsTCDD Taşımacılık
Lines servedAda Express
Specifications
Train length135 m (442 ft 11 in)
Maximum speed
  • Service:
  • 160 km/h (100 mph)
  • Design:
  • 176 km/h (110 mph)
Axle load<18t
Electric system(s)25 kV 50 Hz AC Catenary
Track gauge1,435 mm (4 ft 8+12 in)

Usage

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The first unit produced for TCDD Transport was delivered to the Adapazarı train station on 27 April 2023.[1] After being exhibited at various stations in Istanbul in May, the train made its inaugural journey on May 27 along the Adapazarı-Gebze line.[2] TÜRASAŞ plans to export E44000 units to European Union countries in the following years.[3]

Design

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Interior of the rolling stock.

The trains operational speed is at 160 km/h (100 mph), with a design speed of 176 km/h (110 mph).[3] The trains can consist of 3, 4, 5 or 6 cars depending on demand. The capacity of 5-car sets are 324 people. There are currently 3 sets in existence, with 2 being prototypes and 1 currently being used on the Ada Express. By the end of 2025, 15 sets are planned on being produced and by the end of 2030, 56 sets are planned on being produced.[4]

Production and testing history

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In 2013, TÜVASAŞ was tasked with the production of domestically-produced diesel and electrical multiple unit trains. TÜVASAŞ originally planned on first delivering the electrical, and later the diesel multiple units,[5] with a deadline to test the first prototype in December 2018. This date was then postponed to 2020, and later 2022.[6] In 2020, with TÜVASAŞ merging with other railcar producers to form TÜRASAŞ,[7] responsibility of the project was transferred to TÜRASAŞ.[8]

The prototype units were manufactured with a goal of being 65% domestically produced, with the mass produced units having a goal of being 75% domestically made.[9] The traction motor, transformer, transmission, control and management system are all supplied by Aselsan.[10] The train was planned to reach an operational speed of 225 km/h (140 mph) by the end of 2023,[11] but this has since been made its own project.[12]

The testing of the first five E44000 units produced at the Turkish Wagon Production Factory (Turkish: Türkiye Vagon Sanayi Fabrikası) began in June 2020.[13] After test drives that started in July 2021,[9] 10000 kilometers were covered as of September 2022.[14] As of April 2023, 3 sets had been completed, with a total of 56 sets being planned to be produced by 2030.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c "Milli elektrikli tren TCDD'ye teslim edildi" [National electric train delivered to the Turkish State Railway]. Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2023-04-27. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  2. ^ "Milli elektrikli tren ilk yolculu seferini gerçekleştirdi". Dünya (in Turkish). 2023-05-27. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  3. ^ a b "MİLLİ ELEKTRİKLİ TREN SETİ". TÜRASAŞ. Archived from the original on 2023-03-28. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  4. ^ Cebeci, Ömer Faruk; Subaşı, Uğur (2023-04-27). "İlk Milli Elektrikli Tren Seti TCDD'ye teslim edildi" (in Turkish). Anadolu Ajansı. Archived from the original on 2023-04-27. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  5. ^ Şavur, Emel; Sezer, Nuri (2014). "Milli Tren Projesi Kapsamında Üretilecek Elektrikli Tren Setleri ve TSI Avrupa Birliği Gerekliliklerine Göre Sertifikasyonu" [Electric Train Sets to be Produced within the Scope of the National Train Project and TSI Certification According to European Union Requirements]. Demiryolu Mühendisliği (in Turkish): 48–50. ISSN 2149-1607. Archived from the original on 2020-03-24. Retrieved 2023-12-14 – via Dergipark.
  6. ^ Sevgi, Erdem (2022-09-27). "2018'de raylara inmesi planlanan yerli tren projesi bir kez daha ertelendi" [National train planned to be lowered on to track has been postponed again]. www.cumhuriyet.com.tr (in Turkish). Cumhuriyet. Archived from the original on 2022-10-10. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  7. ^ "2186 Sayılı Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kararı" [Presidential Decree 2186] (PDF). tcdd.gov.tr. Resmi Gazete. 2023-03-03. Archived (pdf) from the original on 2023-12-14 – via Turkish State Railways.
  8. ^ "Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan imzaladı, 3 şirket birleşti, TÜRASAŞ ortaya çıktı" [President Erdoğan signed, 3 companies merged, TÜRASAŞ was formed.]. Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2020-03-04. Archived from the original on 2021-07-28. Retrieved 2023-12-14.
  9. ^ a b "Milli Elektrikli Tren Setlerinin Test Sürüşleri Başlıyor". Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı (in Turkish). 2021-07-02. Archived from the original on 2023-03-25. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  10. ^ "Kalbi ve beyni Aselsan'a ait! İşte Milli Elektrikli Tren". Hürriyet (in Turkish). 2020-02-17. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  11. ^ "Milli Elektrikli Tren Seti raylara inmek için hazırlanıyor". NTV (in Turkish). Anadolu Agency. 2023-10-29. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  12. ^ "MİLLİ HIZLI TREN SETİ". Türkiye Raylı Sistem Araçları Sanayi A.Ş. (in Turkish). 2023. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  13. ^ "Milli ve Yerli Elektrikli Trenin Fabrika Test Töreni". Governor of Sakarya. 2020-06-30. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.
  14. ^ "Milli Elektrikli Tren 160 kilometre hıza çıktı! 10 bin kilometre test yapıldı". Hürriyet (in Turkish). İhlas News Agency. 2022-09-12. Archived from the original on 2023-10-29. Retrieved 2024-02-29.