The signing with ENSCO took place on Nov.17, 2025, with Dr. Yong Jang Kwon signing on behalf of KRRI and Bindi Patel, ENSCO Vice President of Contracts and Procurement, signing on behalf of ENSCO.
The agreement, ENSCO says, “establishes a framework for cooperation between ENSCO and KRRI to identify and pursue mutually beneficial research and development initiatives, including heavy haul operations, high-speed rail technologies, advanced testing methodologies, and safety systems. It also provides for the potential exchange of technical expertise, joint training programs, and shared use of test facilities in both the United States and the Republic of Korea.”
The MOU follows recent technical discussions between ENSCO and KRRI and coincides with both organizations’ participation in the International Heavy Haul Association (IHHA) and World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR) 2025 conferences. KRRI representatives visited the TTC ahead of these events to explore collaborative opportunities and review the facility’s modernization and multimodal testing capabilities.
“ENSCO and KRRI share a deep commitment to advancing the safety and performance of global rail systems,” said ENSCO President Jeff Stevens. “This partnership strengthens the Transportation Technology Center’s role as an international hub for innovation.”
“Through this collaboration, KRRI looks forward to working closely with ENSCO to advance joint research that contributes to the future of sustainable and intelligent railway systems,” said KRRI President Dr. Myung Sagong.
This international collaboration, the operator says, “builds on ENSCO’s commitment to position the TTC as a global center for transportation research, safety, and technology development, supporting the FRA’s ongoing mission to promote innovation across all modes of surface transportation.”
The agreement with MxV Rail, which was formalized on Nov. 18 during Rail Research Week 2025, “establishes an unprecedented commitment to knowledge sharing, site coordination, and mission-critical research between the organizations,” MxV Rail said.
The new partnership, the organization says, “significantly enhances the capabilities of both MxV Rail and KRRI by aligning their world-class testing facilities, institutional knowledge, and engineering expertise.” Future research endeavors will include shared use of test rolling stock, collaboration on digital data asset management and maintenance systems, exchanging personnel for knowledge transfer and employee growth, as well as joint development of thought leadership, training programs, seminars, and symposia.
“This partnership is significant as it further strengthens the longstanding cooperation that has continued since the signing of the MOU in 2018,” said Sagong. “Through closer collaboration between our two organizations, we expect to see enhanced joint responses to the digital transformation of the railway industry driven by the sharing of information, knowledge, and experience; strengthened practical cooperation in testing, certification, and the use of test tracks; and improved national competitiveness through proactive and mutually beneficial responses to changes in the global railway environment.”
“Our teams have historically worked on carbon-neutral and digital technologies together, and both organizations recognize that, along with our technical prowess, people are the heart of what we do,” said MxV Rail President and CEO Kari Gonzales. “With every advancement in the safety, efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of the railways, we improve communities around the globe. We are going to do great things together.”
