SOUTH KOREA: Hyundai Rotem has been awarded a 361·5bn won contract to supply driverless rolling stock and railway systems for a metro line being developed in Seoul.

Rotem is to supply 50 two-car trainsets to operate the 13·4 km underground line connecting Seongdong-gu and Nowon-gu in northeast Seoul. The driverless trains would have capacity for 172 passengers and a maximum speed of 70 km/h.

Rotem will also supply the signalling, communications, track, power supply and platform screen doors.

Construction of the line with 16 stations is expected to start in December 2019 and be completed in 2024. Hyundai Rotem is part of a consortium developing the project that also includes Hyundai Engineering, Doosan Engineering & Construction, Kumho Industrial Co and KBI Construction.