TCDD E44000
{{Infobox train
| name = TCDD E44000
| image = TCDD E44000 at Bakırköy Station 1.jpg
| image_size = 220px
| caption = A production unit parked at Bakırköy station.
| service = 2023–present
| manufacturer = TÜRASAŞ
| designer = TÜRASAŞ
| yearservice = 2023
| numberbuilt = 3
| fleetnumbers =
| capacity = 324 (5 car)
| operator = TCDD Taşımacılık
| lines = Ada Express
| trainlength = {{convert|135|m|ftin|0|abbr=on}}
| maxspeed = {{ubl|class=nowrap
|Service:
|{{Convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=10}}
|Design:
|{{Convert|176|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=10}}
}}
| axleload = <18t
| electricsystem = 25 kV 50 Hz AC Catenary
| safety =
| gauge = {{track gauge|sg}}
}}
TCDD E44000, also referred to as the "National Electric Train" ({{langx|tr|"Milli Elektrikli Tren"}}) by the media, is a model of electric trainset produced by TÜVASAŞ (now under TÜRASAŞ) for TCDD Taşımacılık. Trains started to be delivered to the Turkish State Railways (TCDD) on 27 April 2023.{{Cite web |last= |date=2023-04-27 |title=Milli elektrikli tren TCDD’ye teslim edildi |trans-title=National electric train delivered to the Turkish State Railway |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/milli-elektrikli-tren-tcddye-teslim-edildi-42257839 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029171655/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/milli-elektrikli-tren-tcddye-teslim-edildi-42257839 |archive-date=2023-10-29 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Hürriyet |language=tr}}
Usage
The first unit produced for TCDD Transport was delivered to the Adapazarı train station on 27 April 2023. After being exhibited at various stations in Istanbul in May, the train made its inaugural journey on May 27 along the Adapazarı-Gebze line.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2023-05-27 |title=Milli elektrikli tren ilk yolculu seferini gerçekleştirdi |url=https://www.dunya.com/gundem/milli-elektrikli-tren-ilk-yolculu-seferini-gerceklestirdi-haberi-694754 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029185637/https://www.dunya.com/gundem/milli-elektrikli-tren-ilk-yolculu-seferini-gerceklestirdi-haberi-694754 |archive-date=2023-10-29 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Dünya |language=tr}} TÜRASAŞ plans to export E44000 units to European Union countries in the following years.
Design
File:TCDD E44000 at Bakırköy Station 3 interior.jpg
The trains operational speed is at {{Convert|160|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=10}}, with a design speed of {{Convert|176|km/h|mph|abbr=on|round=10}}.{{Cite web |title=MİLLİ ELEKTRİKLİ TREN SETİ |url=https://www.turasas.gov.tr/milli-elektrikli-tren-seti |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328191019/https://turasas.gov.tr/milli-elektrikli-tren-seti |archive-date=2023-03-28 |access-date=2023-05-31 |website=TÜRASAŞ}} The trains can consist of 3, 4, 5 or 6 cars depending on demand. The capacity of 5-car sets are 324 people. There are currently 3 sets in existence, with 2 being prototypes and 1 currently being used on the Ada Express. By the end of 2025, 15 sets are planned on being produced and by the end of 2030, 56 sets are planned on being produced.{{Cite news |last=Cebeci |first=Ömer Faruk |last2=Subaşı |first2=Uğur |date=2023-04-27 |title=İlk Milli Elektrikli Tren Seti TCDD'ye teslim edildi |language=tr |agency=Anadolu Ajansı |url=https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/bilim-teknoloji/ilk-milli-elektrikli-tren-seti-tcddye-teslim-edildi/2882630 |access-date=2023-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230427114515/https://www.aa.com.tr/tr/bilim-teknoloji/ilk-milli-elektrikli-tren-seti-tcddye-teslim-edildi/2882630 |archive-date=2023-04-27}}
Production and testing history
In 2013, TÜVASAŞ was tasked with the production of domestically-produced diesel and electrical multiple unit trains. TÜVASAŞ originally planned on first delivering the electrical, and later the diesel multiple units,{{Cite journal |last=Şavur |first=Emel |last2=Sezer |first2=Nuri |year=2014 |title=Milli Tren Projesi Kapsamında Üretilecek Elektrikli Tren Setleri ve TSI Avrupa Birliği Gerekliliklerine Göre Sertifikasyonu |trans-title=Electric Train Sets to be Produced within the Scope of the National Train Project and TSI Certification According to European Union Requirements |url=https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/517905 |url-status=live |journal=Demiryolu Mühendisliği |language=tr |pages=48-50 |issn=2149-1607 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324181243/https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/download/article-file/517905 |archive-date=2020-03-24 |access-date=2023-12-14 |via=Dergipark}} with a deadline to test the first prototype in December 2018. This date was then postponed to 2020, and later 2022.{{Cite web |last=Sevgi |first=Erdem |date=2022-09-27 |title=2018’de raylara inmesi planlanan yerli tren projesi bir kez daha ertelendi |trans-title=National train planned to be lowered on to track has been postponed again |url=https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/turkiye/2018de-raylara-inmesi-planlanan-yerli-tren-projesi-bir-kez-daha-ertelendi-1985608 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221010002347/https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/turkiye/2018de-raylara-inmesi-planlanan-yerli-tren-projesi-bir-kez-daha-ertelendi-1985608 |archive-date=2022-10-10 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=www.cumhuriyet.com.tr |publisher=Cumhuriyet |language=tr}} In 2020, with TÜVASAŞ merging with other railcar producers to form TÜRASAŞ,{{Cite web |date=2023-03-03 |title=2186 Sayılı Cumhurbaşkanlığı Kararı |trans-title=Presidential Decree 2186 |url=https://static.tcdd.gov.tr/webfiles/userfiles/files/2186.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.org/details/karar_202312 |archive-date=2023-12-14 |archive-format=pdf |website=tcdd.gov.tr |publisher=Resmi Gazete |via=Turkish State Railways}} responsibility of the project was transferred to TÜRASAŞ.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2020-03-04 |title=Cumhurbaşkanı Erdoğan imzaladı, 3 şirket birleşti, TÜRASAŞ ortaya çıktı |trans-title=President Erdoğan signed, 3 companies merged, TÜRASAŞ was formed. |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-imzaladi-3-sirket-birlesti-turasas-ortaya-cikti-41460626 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210728111627/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/cumhurbaskani-erdogan-imzaladi-3-sirket-birlesti-turasas-ortaya-cikti-41460626 |archive-date=2021-07-28 |access-date=2023-12-14 |website=Hürriyet |language=tr}}
The prototype units were manufactured with a goal of being 65% domestically produced, with the mass produced units having a goal of being 75% domestically made.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-02 |title=Milli Elektrikli Tren Setlerinin Test Sürüşleri Başlıyor |url=https://www.uab.gov.tr/haberler/milli-elektriktli-tren-setlerinin-test-surusleri-basliyor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230325061615/https://www.uab.gov.tr/haberler/milli-elektriktli-tren-setlerinin-test-surusleri-basliyor |archive-date=2023-03-25 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Ulaştırma ve Altyapı Bakanlığı |language=tr}} The traction motor, transformer, transmission, control and management system are all supplied by Aselsan.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-17 |title=Kalbi ve beyni Aselsan'a ait! İşte Milli Elektrikli Tren |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/galeri-kalbi-ve-beyni-aselsana-ait-iste-milli-elektrikli-tren-41449026 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029171639/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/galeri-kalbi-ve-beyni-aselsana-ait-iste-milli-elektrikli-tren-41449026 |archive-date=2023-10-29 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Hürriyet |language=tr}} The train was planned to reach an operational speed of {{Convert|225|km/h|mph|abbr=unit}} by the end of 2023,{{Cite web |date=2023-10-29 |title=Milli Elektrikli Tren Seti raylara inmek için hazırlanıyor |url=https://www.ntv.com.tr/galeri/ntvpara/milli-elektrikli-tren-seti-raylara-inmek-icin-hazirlaniyor,Sn8hqkzTbkCCisfLncBIgw |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029214403/https://www.ntv.com.tr/galeri/ntvpara/milli-elektrikli-tren-seti-raylara-inmek-icin-hazirlaniyor,Sn8hqkzTbkCCisfLncBIgw/FeunAMWLu0GWm5Obw26nmQ |archive-date=2023-10-29 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=NTV |language=tr |agency=Anadolu Agency}} but this has since been made its own project.{{Cite web |last= |first= |year=2023 |title=MİLLİ HIZLI TREN SETİ |url=https://www.turasas.gov.tr/milli-hizli-tren-seti |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Türkiye Raylı Sistem Araçları Sanayi A.Ş. |language=tr}}
The testing of the first five E44000 units produced at the Turkish Wagon Production Factory ({{Langx|tr|Türkiye Vagon Sanayi Fabrikası}}) began in June 2020.{{Cite web |date=2020-06-30 |title=Milli ve Yerli Elektrikli Trenin Fabrika Test Töreni |url=http://www.sakarya.gov.tr/milli-elektrikli-tren |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029214420/http://www.sakarya.gov.tr/milli-elektrikli-tren |archive-date=2023-10-29 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Governor of Sakarya}} After test drives that started in July 2021, 10,000 kilometers were covered as of September 2022.{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-09-12 |title=Milli Elektrikli Tren 160 kilometre hıza çıktı! 10 bin kilometre test yapıldı |url=https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/milli-elektrikli-tren-160-kilometre-hiza-cikti-10-bin-kilometre-test-yapildi-42136100 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029185637/https://www.hurriyet.com.tr/ekonomi/milli-elektrikli-tren-160-kilometre-hiza-cikti-10-bin-kilometre-test-yapildi-42136100 |archive-date=2023-10-29 |access-date=2024-02-29 |website=Hürriyet |language=tr |agency=İhlas News Agency}} As of April 2023, 3 sets had been completed, with a total of 56 sets being planned to be produced by 2030.