Turkish state-owned railcar manufacturer Tüvasas (www.tuvasas.com.tr) has won a contract to provide 21 aluminium-bodied five-carriage electric multiple-unit trains for national rail operator TCDD Tasimacilik.

The total seating capacity of each train will be 322, plus two wheelchair spaces. The first EMU is set to carry passengers in late 2019.

The 160kph inter-regional trains will be produced at a factory in Sakarya province and will use a much higher proportion of local components than existing designs, according to a spokesman.

Tüvasas exhibited a mock-up of the exterior at the recent Eurasia Rail trade show in Istanbul.

The company has previously supplied EMUs that comply with European Technical Specifications for Interoperability to Bulgaria, and it sees the latest order as a potential foundation for it to win more orders internationally.