en.Wedoany.com Reported - Turkey's state-owned railway manufacturer TÜRASAŞ has accelerated its first domestically produced high-speed electric train, the "National High-Speed Electric Train (Milli Yüksek Hızlı Elektrikli Tren)," to 240 km/h during its testing program, a milestone confirmed by Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu. The eight-car aluminum-bodied train, which can accommodate 577 passengers, had previously reached 225 km/h during dynamic braking tests. The ministry has not yet announced the final maximum design speed or the date for entry into service.
The train's traction system, as well as its Train Control and Management System (TCMS), were designed and manufactured domestically by TÜRASAŞ in collaboration with Turkish defense electronics company ASELSAN. The eight-car aluminum-bodied configuration seats 577 passengers, including two accessible compartments, and features a dedicated platform-to-vehicle lift. Onboard systems include fully automatic air conditioning, electromechanical passenger doors, an automatic train stop system, fire detection sensors, audiovisual passenger information displays, surveillance cameras, and vending machines with a kitchen service area. The ministry has not disclosed the maximum design speed, total project cost, or estimated certification timeline.
TÜRASAŞ's prototype test benchmark of 240 km/h places it in the mid-range of the high-speed train market. For comparison, Siemens Velaro TR (already operated by Turkish State Railways TCDD on the Ankara-Konya and Ankara-Istanbul corridors) offers a service speed of 300 km/h with 516 seats in an eight-car configuration; Alstom's TGV Duplex operates at 320 km/h in France with a double-deck eight-car configuration accommodating approximately 509 to 545 passengers; and CRRC's Fuxing series, in service in China since 2017, reaches a maximum speed of 350 km/h with an eight-car capacity of 556 to 576 seats depending on configuration. The Turkish train's 577 seats suggest a high-density interior layout, but the undisclosed maximum design speed leaves its competitive positioning incomplete. On the supply chain front, Turkey has signed a 10-year railway wheel supply agreement with Tatravagonka, supported by an investment of 30 billion rupees, indicating a parallel strategy of localization while continuing to import critical subsystems. In the broader market, the California High-Speed Rail Authority awarded a $3.5 billion contract in 2025 for the construction of a 119-mile segment in the Central Valley, with the total project cost for the reduced valley section alone currently estimated at $34.76 billion, highlighting the capital intensity of building new high-speed rail infrastructure.
The core objective of this program is not to directly match the 300–350 km/h benchmarks set by Siemens or Alstom, but rather to establish indigenous design-to-manufacturing capabilities to reduce long-term dependence on foreign rolling stock suppliers. The partnership with ASELSAN is a strategically significant element, applying defense sector expertise in power electronics and embedded control systems to railway traction and TCMS systems. The undisclosed maximum speed and lack of a certification timeline suggest the program is still in an early stage of maturity. For Turkey's growing high-speed rail network, which exceeds 1,200 km, domestically produced trains could alter the economics of fleet procurement if series production costs are lower than imported alternatives. TCDD's existing high-speed corridors include Ankara-Istanbul, Ankara-Konya, and Ankara-Sivas, with extensions to Izmir and Bursa under construction.
Q: What is the maximum design speed of Turkey's domestic high-speed train? A: The ministry has not publicly disclosed the target maximum speed. Testing is ongoing, and Minister Uraloğlu stated that tests will continue until the train reaches its intended maximum speed and meets all safety standards.
Q: When will the TÜRASAŞ high-speed train enter passenger service? A: No official date for entry into service has been confirmed. The train must complete a full validation program covering speed, braking, operational performance, and infrastructure compatibility to obtain regulatory approval.
Q: How does this train compare to the Siemens Velaro trains already operating in Turkey? A: The Siemens Velaro TR operates in commercial service at 300 km/h with 516 seats. TÜRASAŞ's prototype has reached 240 km/h in testing and offers 577 seats in an eight-car configuration, but its final service speed and operational performance will only be determined after the testing program concludes and specifications are released.
Q: Which routes will the domestic high-speed train serve? A: The ministry has not specified initial route assignments. TCDD's existing high-speed corridors include Ankara-Istanbul, Ankara-Konya, and Ankara-Sivas, with extensions to Izmir and Bursa under construction.
Q: What role did ASELSAN play in the train's development? A: ASELSAN co-designed and manufactured the traction system and the Train Control and Management System (TCMS), both produced locally, marking the first time Turkish companies have supplied these critical electromechanical and software subsystems for a high-speed rail application.
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