Hyundai Rotem said May 6 that it began revenue service for the new high-speed rolling stock on May 5 local time.
The trains will run on the country’s longest rail line, about 1,020 kilometers (634 miles), linking the capital, Tashkent, with Khiva, a Silk Road city in the west.
The fleet consists of 42 cars, with seven cars per trainset, designed based on the KTX-Eum (EMU-260). The trains have a top speed of 250 kph (155 mph) and can carry up to 389 passengers. Hyundai Rotem said the distributed-power design offers better acceleration and deceleration efficiency than the locomotive-style high-speed trains previously used locally. Seating is divided into three classes: VIP, business and economy.
Hyundai Rotem said the trains were tailored for local conditions, including dust-resistant design for extreme heat and desert environments, to provide safe and comfortable long-distance travel.
The company signed a supply contract in 2024 with Uzbekistan Railways (UTY), which it described as the first overseas export of a domestically developed Korean high-speed train.
Hyundai Rotem said more than 600 South Korean parts suppliers involved in the project will be able to demonstrate to global markets a stable production, delivery and handover supply chain built with the company.
The company said it expects the launch to help improve Uzbekistan’s transportation infrastructure and left open the possibility of entering Vietnam’s high-speed rail market. On April 23, Hyundai Rotem signed a 491 billion won contract with Vietnam’s THACO Group for the Ho Chi Minh City Metro Line 2 project.
A Hyundai Rotem official said the company is moving into commercial operations after holding a launch ceremony in November and starting test runs this year. The official said the company will work to expand additional export bases, including Vietnam, where it has already entered the market.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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