Hyundai Rotem Co., the locomotive and rolling stock unit of Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group, has bagged a deal worth $80.35 million to supply 20 diesel-electric trains for Bangladesh Railway.

This marks the company’s third diesel-electric locomotive order from Bangladesh’s state-owned rail transport agency in just a year, according to Hyundai Rotem on Thursday. The company will start producing 20 diesel-electric locomotives at its plant in Changwon, South Gyeonsang Province in Korea from next year with an aim to deliver them by 2021.

Thanks to the latest order, Hyundai Rotem now occupies the largest 33.8 percent share of the diesel-electric locomotive market in Bangladesh. It secured an order to provide 80 units in May last year and another order for 20 units in October. Bangladesh has ordered total 433 trains, including the latest order, from the Korean company since 1978.

The newly ordered locomotives with on-board diesel engines will be 17 meters long and 2.7 meters wide to run on narrow gorge railways with a maximum speed of 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour).

By Chun Gyung-woon and Cho Jeehyun

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