 As the Class 8000 locomotives neared the end of their 30-year lifespans, Korail found the need to order replacement locomotives.The replacements came to be known as the Class 8500 locomotives, and have been steadily entering service since 2012.The majority of the Class 8000 locomotives have been retired by the new Class 8500 locomotives; only units 8091-8094 remain in service up to this day (from the entire order of 8001-8094).