As electrification extends, new electric locos are expected to be purchased for rolling stock fleets in Turkey. But which loco?

Electrified conventional rail network is extended by 30% in recent 3 years. Electric locos run with lower operation and energy costs. Since the target is to electrification of all Turkish network, almost all new investment for rolling stock will be electric locos, but which one? Here below are the options:

E68000

This is the only electric locomotive currently can be produced in Turkey. It’s produced in Eskişehir under license of Hyundai Rotem. 80 locos had been produced, all for TCDD Taşımacılık. E68000 faced with spinning problems especially in gradients. It’s clamied that problems aroused because of its low weight and having only 4 axles. Tülomsaş stated that problems were solved with software updates. Not any new order after since then..

E5000

E5000 was presented as first real Turkish electric loco to be designed and manufactured byTülomsaş. Works started in 2018. A team of 162 staff started work, planning to complete the work in 4 years. As Tülomsaş has recently been merged under Türasaş, the plans may be updated. No statement about this project since then. If realized, it’ll provide a great know-how to Turkish rail industry.

Vectron

Having won last two tenders for HSTs of Turkey, Siemens is following the Turkish rolling stock market quite closely. Company had also brought a Vectron, completed the homologation process, registered loco as E87000, even trained some loco drivers. The loco got very positive feedback from drivers, but is quite expensive for Turkish market with a price over € 4mn.

Euro Dual

Stadler’s heavy haul locomotive was well known after new private operator, Körfez Ulaştırma, ordered 7 of them. The loco has 6 axle Co’Co’ system which is prefered in Turkey’s steepest gradients. Euro Dual produces 6.15 MW power and can pull trains upto 2k tons. Most distinctive feature of the loco is that it also has a 2.8 MW diesel electric engine. Körfez Ulaştırma will receive the first loco in 2021. With this order, Euro Dual’s sales had reached to 74 in total. The contract value was not announced, but another contract was heard, having a value of € 5.5 mn for one loco.

MZ 443

Macedonia was the first to buy China’s second TSI compatible loco, MZ 443. 4 locos were sold, which were carried via Turkey. Locos produce power of 4800 kW, have max speed of 120 km/h and can carry a train of 1600 tons. MZ 443’s biggest advantage is the price. Macedonia had purchased each for € 2 mn.

EuroSprinter/Taurus

This is also known as ES 64, produced by Siemens, producing power of 6400 kW. 600 locos were produced since 1996. Renovated ones can make a speed of 230 km/h. In 2006, loco hit the record of conventional locos with a speed of 357 km/h.

Austrian State Railways (ÖBB) has many ES 64 U (registered as Class 1016, and called as Taurus). It was clamied to be offered to a Turkish operator. However, according to current legislation in Turkey, max 10 years old rolling stock can be imported, which should be changed before buying those locos. Another issue is that locos are designed for Austria having 15 kV electric system. If these to be prefered, they should be changed to 25 kV for Turkey.

ÖBB Class 1144

Class 1044/1144 has been the main loco of ÖBB during 1976-1994 before Taurus. Over 200 were manufactured during that time. Locos produce power of 5000 kW. In the first years, a design problem was discovered, where snow was ingested into the engine together with air during winter. The design was changed, problem solved. But locos are called “Alpine vacuum cleaner” since then.

Last week, news heard in Austrian media that ÖBB sold these locos to Turkey. However the youngest one of these locos is 25 yars old. Similar to Taurus, the legislation should be changed and electric system should be changed according to Turkish system before they are imported. In the same news, it’s written that 4 locos will depart this week towards Ukrain for revision of electric system and 39 more will be sent to Ukrain until end of this year. However we need to mention that the information is not confirmed.