Following the previous article on the inauguration of the Marmaray Project on 29 October 2013 (cf UIC eNews Nr 371), Turkish State Railways (TCDD) have submitted more detailed information on the technical specifications of the project for UIC eNews readers.

1 - Train sets

Composition of trains:

• Marmaray Electric Units are two types of train sets which are composed of 5 and 10 coaches.
• A total of 54 sets (440 coaches) 20 of which are composed of 5 coaches and 34 of which are composed of 10 coaches.
• The length of each coach is 22.5 metres with 5-coach trains 112.5 metres long and 10-coach trains 225.2 metres long.
• The width of the trains is 3 010 mm and the height is 3 850 mm.
• The height of the platform is 1 050 mm.
• The sets have automatic couplings at both ends.

Passenger capacity:

Technical Features:

• Maximum speed: 105 km/h, operational speed on Marmaray tracks: 80 km/h.
• Energy supply: 25 kV.
• Weight: 5-coach: 206 tonnes, 10-coach: 408 tonnes.
• 12 traction motors exist in 5-coach sets and have a power of 2 400 kW (3 200 hp). In 10-coach sets, 24 traction motors exist and have a power of 4 800 kW (6 800 hp).
• Systems for air-conditioning, cameras, fire alarms and written and audio passenger information exist in all coaches.

2 - Command Center

Marmaray Operation Management Center will function in Üsküdar until Maltepe OCC is opened.
OCC Control Region: lines between Kazlıçeşme and Ayrılıkçeşme stations are T1 and T2. When the whole system is active, it will command Halkalı, Gebze T1, T2, T3 lines. Existing Üsküdar OCC region:

For Traffic Control System CBTC (Communications-Based Train Control) Sirus, ERTMS (ETCS) L1 and a wayside signalling system are used.
When the Project is completed it will be possible to operate trains at intervals of 2 minutes. At first, headway will be 10 minutes and 5 minutes for peak hours. The operational speed will be 80 Km/h.

3 - Signalling system

The Marmaray Project, which is intended to connect the Anatolian and European Sides of Istanbul by rail in a seamless way, is based on a principle of application of two different systems on the same railway line, which is the first in the world in terms of signalling systems. Within the Project, the subsystem of ETCS (European Train Control System) Level 1 will be applied for main line trains (national and international) and a subsystem of CBTC (Communication-Based Train Control) will be applied for suburban trains on a common wayside signalling subsystem (interlocking, wayside signals, train detection ...etc.) along the two lines called T1 and T2. In this way, two different train control systems will work on the same line. The system will be capable of serving for both CBTC and ETCS L1 rolling stock at the same time and will be the first mixed operation system in the world when these two systems are applied together. It will also have the capacity of operating suburban trains at intervals of two minutes in the section of Marmaray Project Strait Crossing.
Furthermore, ETCS Level 1 will be used to operate mainline trains on the line called T3 on the grade sections where only the suburban lines have been improved.

When the Project is completed, it will be able to control suburban and mainline trains from a single control centre.

4 - Communication System

The telecommunication system that will be used in Marmaray will be comprised of:
Fiber Optic subsystem: 36 core will be used for backbone FO cable 2x24 core radio system.

Transmission subsystem: Comprising fiber optic cables and rings, the transmission subsystem provides physical track substitution. It was designed for uninterrupted transmission.

Subsystem for telephone: There are three centres which have main servers in Halkalı, Üsküdar and Maltepe.

Multifunctional Communication Subsystem: The aim of this system is to integrate audio communication systems existing on the line by providing rail system operators with specific terminals (DUT) that are appropriate for the purpose.

TETRA Subsystem: Provides individual or group calls, emergency calls and short message services. On-board radio equipment is available. Provides seamless mobile communication in the tunnel. Installed for suburban railway equipment between Halkalı and Gebze.

GSM-R: Used for intercity trains.

In addition, subsystems for announcements, passenger information system, CCTV, clock, time distribution, and seismic alarm will also be used in the Marmaray communication system.

(Source: TCDD)