Hyundai Rotem Begins Commercial Operation of Unmanned Trains in Turkey

Electric train delivered by Hyundai Rotem to Istanbul, Turkey
[Photo by Hyundai Rotem]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] Hyundai Rotem's driverless electric trains in Istanbul, Turkey, which were ordered in 2017, have begun commercial operation.

Hyundai Rotem announced on the 29th that the driverless electric trains in Istanbul, Turkey, started commercial operation on the 28th (local time). The Istanbul driverless trains consist of a total of 120 cars (30 trainsets) and were ordered by Hyundai Rotem in 2017 for 156 billion KRW.

Operating at a speed of 80 km/h, the Istanbul electric trains are the second driverless trains operating in Turkey. Twenty trainsets are deployed on the line connecting Mahmutbey and Mezitli, and ten trainsets on the line connecting Dudullu and Bostanci. Fourteen trainsets will be initially deployed on the Mahmutbey-Mezitli line for this opening, and additional trainsets will be sequentially introduced next year when the Dudullu-Bostanci line opens.

The Istanbul driverless trains feature Hyundai Rotem's domestically first-developed 'Zero Speed Regenerative Braking' technology. Applying Hyundai Rotem's zero speed regenerative braking technology ensures a constant deceleration rate, increasing the train's precise stopping rate to 100%, improving ride comfort, and completely eliminating noise generated during stops. Notably, it enhances energy efficiency and reduces brake pad wear, which helps lower fine dust inside tunnels and reduces maintenance costs.

Hyundai Rotem explained that to ensure smooth commercial operation of the Istanbul trains, specialized staff from research, quality, and other departments intensively inspected the initial trainsets' operational status and conducted pre-operation tests to secure quality. They also added that despite the COVID-19 pandemic, thorough production management and factory quarantine activities enabled on-time delivery of the trains.

Turkey is one of Hyundai Rotem's major export markets, and Hyundai Rotem holds the number one market share (60%) in Turkey's electric train market, recognized for its business execution capabilities over the past 20 years. The Istanbul driverless trains, recently opened, were also successfully ordered by surpassing Chinese competitors with financial package support from the Korea Trade Insurance Corporation to promote overseas exports.

Hyundai Rotem has delivered not only electric trains but also light rail and trams to Turkey, holding a total order record of about 1,900 cars, and plans to do its best to secure export competitiveness, including localizing railway vehicle production.

To this end, Hyundai Rotem has gradually expanded localization of its production plant in Turkey since 2007. By establishing an integrated production system capable of handling the entire production process, including car body manufacturing, bogie production, and interior assembly, the local plant now has an annual production capacity of 100 electric train cars.

A Hyundai Rotem official said, “We made great efforts not only to secure the quality of the vehicles but also to meet the delivery schedule of the Istanbul driverless trains,” adding, “Based on the successful commercial operation performance, we will secure competitiveness in Turkey and strive for additional orders.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.