Rolls-Royce is to supply 33 high-performance mtu Series 4000R engines to Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail), the state-owned operator of South Korea’s rail network, as part of a fleet modernisation programme.
The engines will be fitted into new freight locomotives built by South Korean rail vehicle manufacturer Romansys, based in Changwon. The first 30 engines had already been delivered before August 2026.
The new locomotives will replace Korail’s existing fleet of diesel locomotives and will be used mainly on the central line between Seoul and Busan, one of the country’s most important freight corridors.
It is the first time Korail has chosen the mtu Series 4000R engines. The operator has previously relied on mtu Series 183 and 396 engines, including in the diesel-hydraulic Saemaul trains introduced between 1987 and 1993, when Rolls-Royce first began supplying engines to Korail.
Andreas Görtz, president of the business unit Mobile & Sustainable at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said the company was pleased to continue supporting Korail and Romansys, adding that the engines meet modern emission standards while providing the power and reliability required for freight operations, with maximum operational efficiency.
Technical support and servicing for the engines will be provided by MEST, the South Korean distributor for mtu products and a joint venture between ENST Co and Rolls-Royce Solutions Asia established in 2016. Rolls-Royce said close cooperation with local partners ensures fast response times and in-depth technical expertise on site, and that this level of service was an important factor in Korail’s decision to choose mtu engines.
Rolls-Royce Power Systems is headquartered in Friedrichshafen, southern Germany, and employs more than 10,350 people. Its product portfolio includes mtu-brand high-speed engines and propulsion systems for ships, heavy land, rail and defence vehicles, and the oil and gas industry, alongside diesel and gas systems and battery containers for mission critical, standby and continuous power.
