Tashkent: Hyundai Rotem Co., the defense and train subsidiary of Hyundai Motor Group, announced on Wednesday the commencement of commercial operations of its high-speed train in Uzbekistan. This marks a significant milestone in the country's transportation sector as the train embarks on a 1,020-kilometer journey connecting Tashkent, the capital, to Khiva, a historical city on the ancient Silk Road. This new route sets a record as the longest railway line in the Central Asian nation.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the commercial launch is the result of a 270 billion-won (approximately US$185.3 million) contract that Hyundai Rotem signed with Uzbekistan Railways in 2024. This development represents the first commercial operation of high-speed trains developed using Korean technology since the introduction of the KTX train, which was created with French assistance in 2004.

Hyundai Rotem highlighted that the high-speed rail service is poised to significantly enhance Uzbekistan's transportation infrastructure. Travel time between Tashkent and Khiva is expected to be reduced by about half, bringing the total journey time down to approximately seven hours.