A recent report in the Railway Gazette confirms that TCDD Taşımacılık — the government-owned railway company
responsible for most passenger and freight rail operations in Turkey — has signed a contract for preferred bidder Siemens to supply another 10 Velaro high-speed trains.

The contract is worth around 340 million euros and includes three years of maintenance, repair and cleaning.

The latest order will take TCDD’s (www.tcddtasimacilik.gov.tr) Velaro fleet of trains to 17.

The first was bought in May 2013, when a Velaro D high-speed train was taken from Siemens’ production line and refitted for operation in Turkey.

TCDD then awarded Siemensa contract to supply another six eight-carriage trains for the line between Ankara, Konya and Eskişehir.

Tenders for 10 more eight-carriage trains were invited in 2014, but a contract has only now been signed.

Sabrina Soussan, CEO of Siemens’ Mobility Division, said: “Our Velaro family is continuing its success story.

“With its capacity and comfort, the Velaro remains a benchmark for high-speed trains. In Turkey, the train can fully use all its strengths, and it is already proving this in daily operation.”