Alstom hands over Turkey’s first locomotive equipped with ETCS level 1 & 2 for the Eskişehir-Kütahya-Alayunt-Balıkesir railway line
Alstom hands over Turkey’s first locomotive equipped with ETCS level 1 & 2 for the Eskişehir-Kütahya-Alayunt-Balıkesir railway line
Press contact: Middle East and Turkey
Bahaa Omran
Send an email16 September 2021 – Alstom has handed over the first locomotive, out of 26, equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) level 1 & 2 as part of the company’s contract with Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları (TCDD) to supply signalling and telecommunications systems on the line connecting Eskişehir, about 260 km East of Ankara, to Balıkesir near the Aegean coast. This 328-km long rail link also serves the city of Kütahya.
The new signalling system will enable TCDD to manage its rail services on the Eskişehir-Balıkesir corridor efficiently and seamlessly. Additionally, it will make it possible to increase the line’s capacity.
The Eskişehir-Kütahya-Alayunt-Balıkesir (EKB) project includes a trackside and on-board modernization project for the EKB line covering the design, manufacturing and supply of the complete trackside via Atlas – Alstom’s signalling system based on level 1 & 2 of the state-of-the-art ERTMS/ETCS, Smartlock interlocking solution and Iconis, an integrated control centre. Furthermore, Alstom is supplying level crossing systems, technical equipment buildings as well as power distribution and uninterrupted power supply systems. A GSM-R system is also provided for the project on the Alayunt-Afyon line section.
"As a long-term partner, we are dedicated to continue supporting TCDD in their mission to enhance their railway technology and improve the line’s safety and capacity. With the new ETCS on-board, the locomotives will provide an advanced level of security beyond the capabilities of the legacy Automatic Train Protection systems (ATP)."
"As a long-term partner, we are dedicated to continue supporting TCDD in their mission to enhance their railway technology and improve the line’s safety and capacity. With the new ETCS on-board, the locomotives will provide an advanced level of security beyond the capabilities of the legacy Automatic Train Protection systems (ATP). It will also reduce the total operating cost of EKB line, and it will standardize the line-length and on-board equipment while providing common communication between countries. Indeed, we are very proud of what we have achieved together with TCDD," said Mama Sougoufara, Alstom MENAT and Turkey Managing Director.
Alstom has been present in Turkey for more than 60 years, delivering rail vehicles, turnkey transit systems for metros and trams, and established as a leading provider of signalling and train control technology. The Istanbul office hosts the regional center for Alstom’s Digital & Integrated Systems expertise, as well as the Systems & Infrastructure project teams, providing project management, engineering, training and maintenance services.
Alstom™ Atlas™ Smartlock™ and Iconis™ are protected trademarks of the Alstom Group.