Turkey’s first domestically produced train should be ready for testing by the end of August, and hopefully be in service by the end of the year, Turkey’s Technology and Industry Minister Mustafa Varank has announced, from (TÜVASA?) Turkish Wagon Industry plant in the northwestern province of Sakarya.
Design and operating speeds of the first electric train were planned at 176 kph (109.3 mph) and 160 kph (99.4 mph), respectively, and will cost Turkey 20% less compared to imported models.
The train’s control and management systems have been developed by Turkish defense manufacturer ASELSAN, all other components such as subsystems, software, hardware, climate and lighting systems were also procured locally, Minister Varank said. This prototype is 60% domestically sourced and we are hoping to increase that rate to 80% after beginning mass production.
It is hoped that Turkey will have the potential to become a global, competitive player in the industry, which has an annual worth of $180 billion.
The Turkish Government is planning to spend $17 billion (TL 116 billion) in railway systems investment over the next decade.
