Hyundai Rotem delivers trains for Uzbekistan ahead of schedule

Rep. Huh Sung-moo, back row center, of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, back row right, and other dignitaries pose in front of a Hyundai Rotem high-speed train during a ceremony marking the delivery of the first batch of trains to Uzbekistan in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, Wednesday. Courtesy of Hyundai Rotem

Hyundai Rotem shipped its first batch of high-speed trains to Uzbekistan Wednesday, completing production of the order ahead of schedule and marking Korea’s first overseas export of domestically developed high-speed rail trains.

The company held an official departure ceremony at Masan Port in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province, attended by Uzbek Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev, Korean government officials and Hyundai Rotem executives.

The shipment includes the initial trainset of Uzbekistan’s new high-speed fleet, part of a contract Hyundai Rotem signed with Uzbekistan Railways in June 2024. The first set, consisting of seven cars, was completed just 17 months after the deal was signed. Hyundai Rotem also stated that the delivery timeline has been brought forward by one to two months, with the trains now expected to arrive in Uzbekistan between January and February, earlier than the original March deadline.

The full project consists of 42 cars across six trainsets. Hyundai Rotem plans to deliver the remaining 35 cars by 2027, with production on track to proceed without any delays.

The Uzbekistan-bound trains are tailored to the country’s desert environment, featuring dust-resistant systems designed to withstand extreme heat and sandstorms.

They are equipped with broad-gauge wheel assemblies designed for Uzbekistan’s wider tracks. The trains will operate on long-distance routes covering approximately 1,286 kilometers, including the key 590-kilometer line between Tashkent and Bukhara. Hyundai Rotem expects the new fleet to significantly enhance the country’s nationwide transportation network.

Company officials attributed the early shipment to Korea’s more than three decades of experience in high-speed rail development. Hyundai Rotem has manufactured the KTX-Sancheon, the KTX-Cheongryong, also known as the EMU-320, and recently completed the national project to develop the EMU-370, capable of reaching 370 kilometers per hour. The Uzbekistan trainsets are based on the KTX-Eum, or the EMU-260, which has been in commercial operation in Korea since 2021, allowing for greater production efficiency.

“This early shipment demonstrates the strength of Korea’s accumulated high-speed rail technology,” said Kim Jeong-hoon, head of Hyundai Rotem’s Rail Solutions Division. He added that the project symbolizes growing cooperation between Korea and Uzbekistan.

Hyundai Rotem said it intends to use the Uzbekistan project as a stepping stone to expand exports of Korea's high-speed rail.

“We will ensure smooth delivery and maintenance support for all trainsets,” a company official said. “Together with our domestic partners, we will continue promoting the excellence of K-high-speed rail around the world.”