Tashkent–Khiva High-Speed Service Set for 2026

High-speed trains connecting Tashkent and Khiva are expected to launch after March 2026.

The trains, produced by South Korea’s Hyundai Rotem, have a higher passenger capacity than the existing Afrosiyob trains and are designed to operate efficiently in Uzbekistan’s climate. They can reach a maximum speed of 250 km/h, The Caspian Post reports, citing Uzbek media.

On December 10, Hyundai Rotem dispatched the first batch of these high-speed trains to Uzbekistan. The first seven-car trainset, produced over 17 months, left Masan Port in Changwon three months ahead of schedule. According to The Korea Times, it is expected to arrive in Uzbekistan between January and February 2026.

The new trains, named “Jaloliddin Manguberdi,” will operate on the Tashkent - Khiva route. As a result, travel time will be reduced from the current 14 hours to 7.5 hours. With a route length of 1,286 km, the Hyundai Rotem trains will average more than 171 km/h.

“This vehicle, which is customized locally and contains a broad-gauge bogie with a wide track, has a dustproof design that provides stable performance even in the high temperature and sandy winds of the desert climate,” Hyundai Rotem said.

Temiryulexpress spokesperson Sanjar Abdukhalilov said the first train is expected to arrive in early 2026. Afterward, it will undergo three months of dynamic testing. The first commercial service is planned for the second quarter of 2026 (April-June).

Each electric multiple unit consists of seven cars: five economy-class and two business-class. The train is 175 meters long, has a maximum speed of 250 km/h, and can carry 389 passengers. Despite being shorter, Hyundai Rotem trainsets have greater capacity than Afrosiyob trains.

“Hyundai Rotem high-speed trains are fully adapted to Uzbekistan’s climate. They can operate in heat up to 50 degrees and cold down to minus 40. They can run without interruption even during the scorching summer months,” the Temiryulexpress representative emphasized.

In September, 20 Temiryulexpress employees traveled to South Korea for advanced training and returned with both theoretical and practical skills. In the first quarter of next year, another 90 Uzbek specialists will undergo training in cooperation with Hyundai Rotem.

Delivery of the remaining five Hyundai Rotem trains, comprising 35 cars, is expected by 2027.