Alstom has handed over the first locomotive, out of 26, equipped with the European Train Control System (ETCS) level 1 and 2 as part of the contract with Türkiye Cumhuriyeti Devlet Demiryolları (TCDD) to supply signalling and telecommunications systems on the line connecting Eskişehir – Balıkesir rail line.
The 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 rail line efficiently and seamlessly. Additionally, it will make be possible to increase the line’s capacity.
In February 2021, Alstom has completed the installation of the interlocking system on the Eskişehir-Kütahya-Alayunt-Balıkesir (EKB) line. The project includes trackside and on-board modernisation project for the EKB line covering the design, manufacturing and supply of the complete trackside ETCS deployment and an integrated control centre. The ETCS installation will be made via Atlas signalling system based on level 1 and 2 of the state-of-the-art ERTMS/ETCS, Smartlock interlocking solution and Iconis. The Atlas ERTMS solution was manufactured at Alstom’s Villeurbanne site, in France.
In addition, 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.
The ERTMS solution on the Eskişehir – Balıkesir line represents a further step towards Eurasian rail market uniformity, facilitating border crossings. The system increases the line’s operational capacity, maximizing the traffic safety and also is reducing the travel time.
“With the new ETCS on-board, the locomotives it 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 standardise the line-length and on-board equipment while providing common communication between countries,” Mama Sougoufara, Alstom MENAT and Turkey Managing Director, said.
In November 2011, TCDD awarded Alstom a EUR 89 million contract to deliver the signalling and telecommunications systems for the line and the installation of the ETCS on the 27 TCDD locomotives. The contract stated that the locomotives will be equipped with ERTMS/ETCS on-board equipment.
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