The Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, has announced that Türasaş has begun construction of the country’s first high-speed train factory and testing facility in Sakarya, northwestern Turkey. The project marks a major milestone in Turkey’s ambition to establish a self-sufficient, high-performance rail industry.
The new factory in Sakarya will occupy an area of approximately 15,000 m², becoming a key national production hub for the manufacture of the first domestically developed high-speed train capable of reaching 225 km/h. In addition, the facility will produce a wide range of locally designed trains that will define the future of Turkey’s rail sector. “Once operational, this factory will provide a major boost to the rail systems industry, which has become one of the cornerstones of our national manufacturing capacity,” Minister Uraloğlu said.
The facility is designed to produce and test up to 12 high-speed train sets each year, reinforcing Turkey’s commitment to reducing import dependency and accelerating progress in sustainable, high-speed mobility. Excavation and embankment works have already been completed, and the foundation-laying stage will begin following ground-improvement operations.
In line with Turkey’s green energy transition, the factory will be powered by solar energy, with a solar power plant already installed at the Türasaş site in Sakarya. A similar installation is under development at the Türasaş facility in Sivas, marking the beginning of a new era of renewable energy use across the country’s rail vehicle production systems. The Ministry of Transport has launched a comprehensive sustainability initiative covering everything from railway vehicles to infrastructure, ensuring that rail manufacturing aligns with Turkey’s decarbonisation goals.
The project aims to deliver a significant economic contribution through the development and production of high-value-added products, while also advancing R&D and technological innovation in the national rail sector. Built entirely with Turkey’s domestic capabilities, the factory will produce the high-speed train fleets required to meet the country’s future mobility needs. Once operational, the high-speed train factory is expected to create around 250 new jobs and contribute approximately TRY 3.5 billion (USD 167 million) annually to the national economy.
Earlier this year, Türasaş delivered new rolling stock to TCDD Taşımacılık, including electric multiple units (EMUs), electric locomotives, freight wagons, and fire-fighting vehicles, all produced entirely at Türasaş facilities in Eskişehir, Sakarya, and Sivas. This year, Turkey has introduced 127 domestically produced next-generation freight wagons into service.
In September, the Minister of Transport announced that the new mainline locomotive project being developed by Türasaş will become Turkey’s first domestically produced six-axle electric locomotive. The locomotive will be manufactured in both electric and diesel-electric versions, a strategy that shortens production times and reduces costs. Known as the National CoCo Mainline Locomotive, it will be the first domestically designed and built six-axle electric locomotive in the country, delivering approximately 50% more power than the four-axle E‑5000. The concept and preliminary design of the new locomotive have been completed, with a target output of 7.2 megawatts. Its diesel-electric version is designed to produce 3,750 horsepower, making it the most powerful locomotive in its class.
Türasaş domestically built six-axle electric locomotive
Massive expansion of rail network
Turkey is currently pursuing one of the most ambitious railway expansion programmes in its history, aiming to transform both its high-speed and conventional rail networks by 2030–2040. According to the Transport and Logistics Master Plan 2053, the country plans to develop thousands of kilometres of new high-speed lines while modernising existing corridors to improve capacity, connectivity, and energy efficiency. By the early 2030s, Turkey expects to operate over 3,500 km of high-speed routes and an additional 8,500 km of rapid rail lines, expanding the network from its current 14,000 km to around 17,500 km—with further growth to 28,590 km by 2053.
Alongside the construction of new lines, major investments are being directed toward signalling modernisation, double-tracking, electrification, and the introduction of advanced traffic control systems on conventional routes to enhance both passenger and freight services. Flagship high-speed projects such as the Ankara–İzmir and Ankara–Sivas lines will dramatically cut travel times and boost intercity mobility, while improved freight corridors will enhance reliability and competitiveness. By integrating rail with ports, logistics centres, and border crossings, Turkey aims to shift more long-distance transport from road to rail—reducing emissions, cutting costs, and reinforcing its role as a strategic transport hub between Europe and Asia.
Through these combined investments in infrastructure, technology, and sustainable manufacturing, Turkey is laying the groundwork for a modern, resilient, and environmentally responsible railway system that will support national and regional development for decades to come.
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