Turkey is nearing the completion of its first domestic and national electric mainline locomotive project

Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu stated that the testing process of Turkey's first domestic and national electric mainline locomotive project ESKİŞEHİR-5000 produced by Turkey Rail System Vehicles Industry Inc. (TÜRASAŞ) is ongoing. Minister Uraloğlu mentioned, 'We started the road tests of our locomotive, developed with local and national capabilities, in October 2024 at the TCDD Hasan Bey depot area. Our locomotive exceeded a major milestone by reaching a speed of 140 kilometers per hour in these tests. Hopefully, we plan to launch our locomotive on the tracks in September 2025.' Uraloğlu stated that the 5-megawatt locomotive developed at TÜRASAŞ's Eskişehir factory will be able to transport both freight and passengers and will have the European Union's Technical Specifications for Interoperability (TSI) certificate. Uraloğlu used the following statements: 'In our ESKİŞEHİR-5000 project, which was designed with Turkish engineering, we achieved a local participation rate of 65% by collaborating with 115 local companies. This rate will reach 80% in mass production. This way, we will prevent foreign dependency in the railway sector.' Minister Uraloğlu pointed out that the ESKİŞEHİR-5000 project includes many firsts: 'The locomotive's traction motors, each with a power of 1280 kilowatts, are the most powerful traction motors designed in Turkey to date. Additionally, the 2.5-megawatt traction converters are also the most powerful high-voltage traction converters designed in our country. For the first time, the vehicle body, bogies, and Train Control Management System for mainline locomotives were produced entirely with local designs. The knowledge gained with ESKİŞEHİR-5000 will be utilized in our other projects. From now on, there will be no foreign dependency in the production of locomotives tailored to the need, and we will gain export opportunities.' Uraloğlu stated that the ESKİŞEHİR-5000 project was realized through the collaboration of Turkish universities and industrial organizations: 'Our project is one of the best examples of university-industry cooperation. TÜRASAŞ, TÜBİTAK RUTE, ASELSAN, and Istanbul Technical University, among other important stakeholders, were involved in this project. A significant turning point is being experienced in increasing Turkey's localization rate in rail systems.' Uraloğlu continued by stating that they are continuing the mass production of 95 ESKİŞEHİR-5000 locomotives to be delivered to TCDD Transport Inc. at full speed: 'All the main components developed for the ESKİŞEHİR-5000 locomotive are products with critical technology that can be exported as separate products. These products can be used in both spare parts and modernization of the existing locomotives within TCDD Transport.'