Hydrogen-powered train project in Türkiye moves into R&D

Hydrogen-powered train project in Türkiye is moving forward after the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure signed a cooperation protocol with partners in the United Kingdom, as reported by Railway Pro.

Under the arrangement, the national company TÜRASAŞ is set to coordinate the work, deliver the prototype, and retain full intellectual property rights.

This is reported by the railway transport news portal Railway Supply.

Protocol signed in Ankara

In Ankara, the protocol was signed by Selim Koçbay, general manager of TÜRASAŞ, and Jill Morris, the UK ambassador to Türkiye, in the presence of Minister of Transport Abdulkadir Uraloğlu—details also carried by Anadolu Agency. The agreement positions the initiative as Türkiye–UK cooperation on a hydrogen train with a development focus rather than immediate rollout.

TÜRASAŞ as prototyping center and project owner

Uraloğlu described the programme as research and development in nature and said TÜRASAŞ will serve as the prototyping center and project owner for a hydrogen fuel cell train. He added that hydrogen-powered locomotives are planned to be produced at the TÜRASAŞ facility in Eskişehir, and that all project rights will belong to the company.

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UK expertise for fuel cell integration and safety

On the technical side, the British contribution is expected to come through respected academic institutions and specialised organisations. The know-how transfer is set to cover fuel cell system integration, system architecture, power electronics, energy management, and operational safety, as outlined by Fuel Cells Works.

Turkish authorities say the project is intended to strengthen local engineering capability and build a domestic technology base for hydrogen-based traction. Uraloğlu also highlighted the appeal of cleaner and quieter rail transport, pointing to lower carbon emissions and reduced noise pollution, alongside improved passenger comfort.

More broadly, Ankara is presenting the hydrogen-powered train project in Türkiye as part of a wider green transport strategy and the country’s long-term development vision. The stated goal is to develop competitive local solutions that meet international standards and to position TÜRASAŞ as a regional center for hydrogen-based railway technologies.

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