Selected news and developments from rolling stock markets worldwide.
Uzbekistan — National operator Uzbekistan Temir Yollari has put its first Hyundai Rotem high-speed EMU into commercial service. The seven-car train runs on the Tashkent – Khiva route, covering the 1,200 km distance in 7.5 hours at an average speed of 162 km/h, with a maximum design speed of 260 km/h. It offers 389 seats across three classes plus a dining car. The contract for six trains was signed with Uzbekistan Temir Yollari in June 2024 and is Hyundai Rotem’s first export of high-speed rolling stock. The full batch is due for delivery by September 2027. Deputy transport minister Jasurbek Choriev recently said that construction of the country’s first dedicated high-speed line, between Tashkent and Samarkand, is likely to be deferred to 2027 because of the project’s complexity.
Presentation of a high-speed train from Hyundai Rotem for Uzbekistan. Source: Uzbekistan Temir Yollari
Australia — The first X’Trapolis 2.0 EMU has entered passenger service on Melbourne’s 1,600 mm-gauge suburban network. The six-car set can carry 1,225 passengers and reach 130 km/h. A fleet of 25 trains, worth €300 mln, was ordered in 2021 for the city’s metropolitan area.
X’Trapolis 2.0 EMU for the suburban network of Mebourne. Source: Wongm’s Rail Gallery
Final assembly takes place at Alstom’s plants in Dandenong and Ballarat, with declared local content of 60%. The Victorian government has recently announced budget funding for a further 25 trains of the same type.
X’Trapolis 2.0 EMU for the suburban network of Mebourne. Source: Alstom
France — The Alstom-CAF consortium has unveiled the first part-double-deck MI20 EMU. The seven-car trainset was presented at Alstom’s Crespin works, where final assembly is under way.
MI20 EMU for RER B in the Paris region. Source: IDF Mobilités
Entry into service on the RER B suburban line in the Paris region was originally scheduled for 2025 but has now been pushed back to the end of 2028. At 104 m long, the train can carry up to 1,063 passengers, including 342 seated. The €2.5 bln contract for 146 MI20 trainsets was signed in 2021.
MI20 EMU for RER B in the Paris region. Source: France 3 Paris
India — Siemens Mobility has handed over the first D9 electric freight locomotive to Indian Railways. The company also opened the first maintenance depot for the type at Visakhapatnam.
D9 electric locomotive from Siemens Mobility for Indian Railways. Source: Siemens Mobility
The six-axle mainline D9 has a power output of 6.6 MW and can haul trains of up to 4,500 t at an average speed of 75 km/h. The deliveries are part of a 10-year contract for 1,200 locomotives signed with the national operator in 2023. Final assembly takes place at the operator’s former depot at Dahod.
