On May 5 at 7:00 AM, a new high-speed train manufactured by South Korea's Hyundai Rotem departed from Tashkent Central (Northern) Station for its maiden voyage to Khiva. Named after the Khwarezm ruler and commander 'Jaloliddin Manguberdi', the electric train covers 1,022 km in 7.5 hours, nearly halving the previous travel time of 14 hours.

The train stops in Samarkand, Bukhara, and Urgench, reaching speeds of up to 250 km/h on certain sections. The 7-car consist is 175 meters long and accommodates 389 passengers, with over 50 seats in two VIP cars. A bistro car is located in the middle of the train.

The train was shipped from Masan Port in South Korea to China by sea, then transported by rail to Uzbekistan. It was built ahead of schedule in 17 months and delivered to Uzbekistan Railways in December 2023. A total of six such trains are to be delivered, with the remaining five expected by the end of 2027.

Hikmatulla Rakhmetov, First Deputy Chairman of Uzbekistan Railways, noted that the project was initially met with skepticism, but now Uzbekistan is the first in the CIS and Central Asia to operate Hyundai Rotem trains. South Korean Ambassador Won Do-yeon called the day historic, emphasizing the close ties between the two nations.

The train is adapted to Uzbekistan's climate, operating in temperatures from +50°C to -40°C and in sand and snowstorms. Seats can be rotated in both directions, and cars are equipped with luggage racks, toilets, a mother-and-child room, CCTV, information screens, 220V outlets, and USB ports.

Hyundai Rotem representative Lee Won-sang stated that the train is the result of a long design process involving over 600 companies, and described the Tashkent-Khiva route as 'an important step in uniting Eurasia'. Following the electrification of the Miskin-Nukus section in 2027, high-speed service is expected to be launched between Tashkent and Nukus.

Source: www.gazeta.uz