Turkish state-owned manufacturer Türasaş has unveiled the E39000, the country’s first domestically produced suburban train, at its Sakarya factory. The new train will be used on the Gaziray suburban rail system in Gaziantep.
At the delivery ceremony, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu conducted the first test drive and highlighted the significance of the project. “We are experiencing a process that will leave its mark on history by producing our own national suburban trains. We are producing eight suburban train sets, each with a capacity of 1,000 passengers,” he stated.
Expansion of the Gaziray rail network
The Gaziray project includes the construction of two high-speed and two suburban railway lines, spanning 25.5 kilometres. According to Minister Uraloğlu, a total of 112 kilometres of new railway lines have been built under the project.
“By putting our national suburban train set on the rails on Gaziray, we are leaving the import period in this field behind and opening the door to a brand new domestic and national era for the first time from Gaziantep,” he added.
Gaziray, which was inaugurated in 2022 through a partnership between the Ministry of Transport and the Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, connects the city centre with two industrial zones. The route, which runs between Başpınar and Taşlıca, has 16 stations and is expected to alleviate congestion in Gaziantep’s urban transport system.
Türasaş suburban train features
Each of the eight train sets consists of four wagons, with a total passenger capacity of 1,000, including 206 seated passengers. The trains are designed with an operating speed of 90 km/h and feature aluminium vehicle bodies.
The trains also include:
- Two wheelchair-accessible sections per set
- 32 high-security passenger doors
- 42 information screens
- Eight security cameras (four interior and four exterior)
- Electronically controlled equipment to enhance safety and comfort
The vehicles have been designed to integrate with other suburban lines, improving maintenance efficiency.
Further train deliveries and infrastructure developments
Seven additional train sets, comprising 28 wagons, will be delivered to Gaziantep. The first is scheduled for June, followed by three in August and three in October.
Since 2002, approximately 124 billion lira has been invested in Gaziantep’s transport and communication infrastructure. This includes the 312.5-kilometre Mersin-Adana-Osmaniye-Gaziantep High-Speed Train Project, which is currently under construction and expected to be completed in 2027. Upon completion, the travel time between Mersin and Gaziantep will be reduced from 6.5 hours to 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Minister Uraloğlu also confirmed that the Gaziantep-Şanlıurfa High-Speed Train Study Project has been completed and included in the government’s investment programme, with a construction tender planned in the near future.
Growth of Gaziantep’s air transport sector
Significant investments have also been made in Gaziantep Airport, where a new domestic and international terminal has been constructed. The airport, which handled 223,000 passengers in 2002, is projected to approach three million passengers in 2024. It currently operates 149 weekly flights to 13 destinations, including seven international routes.
Minister Uraloğlu concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to infrastructure development, stating: “With the understanding of our ancestors, ‘Let the people live so that the state lives,’ we will continue to serve our homeland and nation tirelessly.”
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