President Shavkat Mirziyoyev visited a train factory in Tashkent for passenger train construction and repair. During the visit, plans for a high-speed train between Tashkent and Khiva were announced, with the acquisition of a Hyundai Rotem high-speed electric train from South Korea. The train with seven carriages will accommodate 351 passengers and reach speeds of up to 250 km/h.
In 2021, the Asian Development Bank approved a $162 million loan for electrifying a 465 km railway line. In 2022, a $108 million credit agreement was signed for the same purpose. Once the high-speed service is operational, the journey from Tashkent to Khiva is expected to take 7 hours.
The President inspected the train repair factory where 16 types of passenger trains are manufactured and repaired. Last year, 32 passenger trains were produced and 319 were repaired. Cooperation led to the localization of 70% of parts.
Over the years, over 300 passenger and service trains were produced, with more than 50 exported. Additionally, 112 metro trains were modernized. The trains are designed for a 28-year lifespan, with improved heating, cooling, and ventilation systems. Water heating units operate on electricity and coal, and special devices for clean water and phone charging are provided for passengers.
Plans for this year include building and repairing hundreds of trains, producing special trains for mining companies, and introducing new spacious compartments. The President was presented with a new project for manufacturing electric trains and metro cars.
The purchase of 6 Hyundai Rotem trains was approved by the President in October 2023, with plans to secure a €185 million credit from the Economic Development Cooperation Fund of Korea. The technical and economic justification for the project is expected to be completed by the end of April.
Hyundai Rotem, a subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, is a leading train and tram supplier operating in over 50 countries. In Central Asia, Kazakhstan also uses Hyundai Rotem trains for the metro in Almaty.
