South Korea: Rolling stock manufacturer Hyundai Rotem has completed the first high-speed train for Uzbekistan, marking the company’s first-ever export order for high-speed rolling stock.
The seven-car trainset, designed for operation at up to 250 km/h, has been dispatched to Uzbekistan, with delivery expected between January and February 2026, according to LogiStan.
The contract for six trains was signed with national railway operator Uzbekistan Temir Yollari in June 2024. All units are scheduled for delivery by September 2027, with entry into service planned for April 2027 on the Tashkent–Khiva line. Each train offers 389 seats across three service classes and includes a dining car.
Overview of the first high-speed train from Hyundai Rotem for Uzbekistan. Source: uzrailways_uz/Telegram
The new trains are based on Hyundai Rotem’s KTX-Ieum (EMU-260) platform with distributed traction, which has been in commercial operation in South Korea since 2021. To meet Uzbekistan’s infrastructure standards, the traction system and bogies were redesigned to adapt to different electrification and track gauge specifications.
Given the country’s hot and dry climate, the trains feature polyurethane body coating, enhanced air-conditioning systems, and sand protection measures. Production is taking place at Hyundai Rotem’s Changwon plant, with a reported 87% share of Korean-made components.
