Turkey’s new train operator, TCDD Tasimacilik, is going to invest  586 mn passenger train sets, locos and freight wagons in 2017.

The rolling stock investment budgets were as follows in last 4 years:

Here are the details of rolling stock investments of this year:

High speed trains

High speed train sets get the biggest share from the rolling stock investments budget this year. TL 245 mn will be spent for high speed trains.

Deliveries of the order for 6 Velaro sets had been completed last year. TCDD is now getting prepared for the purchase of 10 high speed train sets, first step of 106-HST-sets-project, which is worth TL 10 bn.

Freight wagons

TCDD has an investment budget of TL 130 mn for the purchase of brand new freight wagons and modernization of its freight wagon fleet. This year, 1200 freight wagons will either be purchased or modernized.

TCDD Tasimacilik has a fleet of 18k freight wagons, some of which are unusable.

“Rent a rolling stock” era started

DMU train sets

TCDD Tasimacilik is planning to buy 52 DMU sets until 2018. This year’s budget is TL 120 mn.

There are 80 DMU sets in the fleet, 48 of which are on operation.

Test train

TCDD has a budget of TL 55 mn for a new train for tests and measuring of high speed train lines.

Main line locos

TCDD Tasimacilik did not purchase any diesel loco last year, and allocated a small budget for this year: TL 20 mn.

How is GE Powerhaul selling?

Electric shunting locos

TCDD will buy 7 electric shunting locos. The first electric shunting loco was 100% locally developed last year by TUBITAK in Turkey. This year’s budget is about TL 9 mn.

First local produced electrical loco: E1000

Turkish EMU train

The Turkish EMU train project is worth TL 500 mn in total, but there’s a symbolic amount allocated this year (TL 1 mn).

20 EMU sets are going to be produced with this project. TCDD Tasimacilik has 117 EMU sets in the fleet, and 101 of them are active.

EMU sets are currently being used in Istanbul and Ankara suburban services and regional train service between Ankara and Polatli. Additional EMU sets will be needed for Ankara suburban train service after completion of Baskenray project.

Cover Photo: Jeff Hawken ©