Korea Train Express facts for kids

Quick facts for kids KTX
KTX-Sancheon
Overview
Service type	Inter-city high-speed rail
Status	Operating
Locale	South Korea
Current operator(s)	Korail
On-board services
Class(es)	First class Standard class
Disabled access	Fully accessible
Catering facilities	Yes
Entertainment facilities	Yes
Baggage facilities	Yes
Technical
Rolling stock	KTX-I KTX-Sancheon KTX-Eum
Track gauge	1,435 mm (4 ft 8 1⁄2 in) Standard gauge
Operating speed	Up to 305 km/h (190 mph)
Route map

The Korea Train eXpress (often called KTX) is South Korea's amazing high-speed rail system. It's like a super-fast train network! The company that runs it is called Korail.

Work on the first high-speed line, connecting Seoul to Busan, began in 1992. KTX trains started running on April 1, 2004.

From Seoul Station, KTX lines spread out to cities like Busan and Gwangju. A new line to Gangneung was finished in December 2017. This line was built to help people get to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

KTX trains can travel at speeds up to 305 km/h (190 mph). The tracks are actually built for even faster speeds, up to 350 km/h (217 mph)! The first KTX trains were based on a French design called TGV. Later, South Korea developed its own high-speed trains, like the KTX Sancheon. Another new train, the HEMU-430X, reached an incredible 421.4 km/h (261.8 mph) in tests in 2013. This made South Korea one of only four countries in the world to build such a fast train.

How KTX Began

Why South Korea Needed Fast Trains

The area between Seoul and Busan is super busy! In the 1970s, many people and goods traveled along this path. The main highway and railway line were getting very crowded. The government realized they needed a new, faster way for people to travel.

Experts from France and Japan first suggested a second railway line in the 1970s. Later studies in Korea also agreed that a high-speed passenger railway was a good idea. This would help separate long-distance passenger travel from freight.

By 1989, the project got the green light. They planned for a Seoul-Busan trip to take about 1 hour and 51 minutes. The project was expected to finish by 1998.

Building the KTX System

Starting Construction of the High-Speed Line

The Korea High Speed Rail Construction Authority (KHSRCA) started building the Seoul–Busan high-speed railway on June 30, 1992. They began with a 57 km (35 mi) section near Cheonan and Daejeon. This part was used for testing the trains.

The builders made sure the tracks could work with different train technologies. A lot of the line was built on bridges and in tunnels. The planned speed was lowered from 350 km/h (217 mph) to 300 km/h (186 mph). This was because the fastest trains available at the time had a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph). In 1994, a French company called GEC-Alsthom (now Alstom) was chosen to supply the main technology.

Phase 1: Seoul to Daegu and Upgrades

After a financial crisis in 1997, the government decided to build the KTX line in two stages. The first stage would finish two-thirds of the high-speed line between Seoul and Daegu by 2004. Trains would use existing conventional lines for the rest of the journey to Busan.

This phase also included upgrading and electrifying parts of the Gyeongbu Line and the Honam Line. This would allow KTX services to reach more places. The first KTX system officially started service on April 1, 2004.

Phase 2: Daegu to Busan and City Sections

The second part of the project, the Daegu–Busan section, became a separate plan in 1998. Construction for this part started in June 2002. This 128.1 km (79.6 mi) line included many bridges and tunnels.

One tunnel, the Wonhyo Tunnel, caused delays. There was a big argument about its environmental impact. A Buddhist nun even went on hunger strikes! The issue was finally settled in court in 2006. Most of the second phase opened on November 1, 2010. The remaining sections through Daejeon and Daegu cities were finished by 2014.

Connecting More Cities

South Korea also worked on upgrading other railway lines. This allowed KTX trains to reach even more cities. For example, the Jeolla Line was upgraded to reach Yeosu for the Expo 2012. The Gyeongjeon Line was also improved to connect to cities like Masan and Jinju.

In 2010, the government announced a big plan. They wanted to make sure people could travel from Seoul to 95% of the country in under 2 hours by 2020. This involved upgrading many main lines for KTX services.

Building More High-Speed Lines

Honam High Speed Railway (Honam HSR)

Plans for a second separate high-speed line from Seoul to Mokpo began to take shape. This new line, called the Honam High Speed Railway, was planned in two stages. The first stage, from Osong Station to Gwangju·Songjeong Station, began construction in December 2009.

Suseo High Speed Railway (Suseo HSR)

Another project, the Suseo High Speed Railway, started in June 2008. This line connects to Suseo station in southeast Seoul. There are also ideas for new high-speed lines to Sokcho on the eastern coast. A direct line to Jinju and the coast is also being considered.

When PyeongChang won the bid for the 2018 Winter Olympics, KTX service to the eastern coast became even more important. The travel time from Seoul was expected to be just 50 minutes.

Jeju Island Connection Idea

In 2009, there was a proposal for a KTX line to Jeju Island. This would involve a long bridge and a 73 km (45 mi) undersea tunnel. It would make Jeju just 2 hours and 26 minutes from Seoul. However, the governor of Jeju opposed this plan. He felt it would change the island's unique identity.

KTX Trains: What They Are Like

KTX-I Trains

The original KTX-I train, based on the French TGV.

The first KTX trains are called KTX-I. They are also known as TGV-K because they are based on the French TGV Réseau trains. Forty-six of these trains were built. The first twelve were made in France, and the rest were built in South Korea.

These trains have 20 cars. They can carry up to 935 passengers. Their regular top speed is 305 km/h (190 mph).

KTX-Sancheon Trains

The KTX-Sancheon train, developed in South Korea.

To serve less busy routes and offer more flexibility, a new train was designed. This train was a smaller version of the HSR-350x, a train developed in Korea. Hyundai Rotem received orders for 24 of these new trains. They were called KTX-II at first.

These trains can reach a design speed of 330 km/h (210 mph). Their regular service speed is 305 km/h (190 mph). They have two power cars and eight passenger cars. They can seat 363 passengers and are more comfortable than the KTX-I. Most of the parts for these trains are made in South Korea.

The KTX-II was officially renamed KTX-Sancheon. This name comes from the Korean word for the cherry salmon fish. The first KTX-Sancheon trains started commercial service on March 2, 2010.

However, soon after they launched, some mechanical problems appeared. Some trains even stopped running. In one case, a train derailed in 2011. Korail asked the manufacturer to check all 19 trains in operation. Despite these early issues, KTX-Sancheon trains were put back into service. More KTX-Sancheon trains have been ordered for new lines.

KTX-Eum at Wonju Station.

KTX-Eum Trains

The KTX-Eum is a newer type of KTX train. It started service on the Jungang Line on January 4, 2021. These trains run between Cheongnyangni and Andong. More KTX-Eum trains are being built to join the fleet.

KTX Lines and How They Operate

Current KTX Lines

Future KTX Lines

How KTX Services Work

A test ticket for a KTX trial run.

KTX trains began regular service on April 1, 2004. They reached a maximum speed of 300 km/h (186 mph) on the finished sections. Later, on November 26, 2007, the top speed was increased to 305 km/h (190 mph).

KTX services are grouped by their routes. The stopping patterns can change for different trains. KTX trains that stay on the Seoul–Busan route are called Gyeongbu KTX. In 2004, the fastest trains cut the Seoul–Busan travel time from 4 hours 10 minutes to just 2 hours 40 minutes.

When the Gyeongbu HSR was extended in 2010, the fastest Seoul–Busan trip became even shorter. It was only 2 hours 18 minutes! Since KTX trains and regular trains in South Korea use the same track width, KTX can run on both networks. This means they can reach many more places.

Some Gyeongbu KTX trains use parts of the older, conventional lines. This allows them to serve cities like Suwon. The Honam KTX service connects Seoul to Mokpo. In 2004, this trip was cut from 4 hours 42 minutes to 2 hours 58 minutes.

New services like Gyeongjeon KTX and Jeolla KTX have also started. These connect Seoul to cities like Masan, Jinju, and Yeosu. By 2015, KTX trains could reach Pohang from Seoul in just 1 hour 50 minutes.

Tickets and Seats on KTX

A Standard Class seat on a KTX train.

Types of Seats

KTX trains offer two types of seats: First Class and Standard Class. First Class seats are wider and arranged 2+1 across the train. Standard Class seats are arranged 2+2.

You can choose if you want a forward-facing or backward-facing seat. There are also special Family seats, which are grouped in fours. KTX trains do not have restaurant cars. Instead, staff serve food and drinks at your seat. Some KTX trains even have a movie theater car!

Ticket Prices

KTX ticket prices are usually somewhere between regular train tickets and airplane tickets. The prices are designed to be cheaper for longer trips. Prices can also change depending on the day of the week. For example, weekend tickets might be a bit more expensive.

Discounts

Korail offers many discounts for KTX tickets. Children, disabled people, seniors, and groups can get discounts. There are also special discount cards for frequent travelers.

You can get discounts for family seats and backward-facing seats. If you buy your ticket online or through a vending machine, you might get a small discount too. If your KTX train is very late, Korail will give you a refund. Foreign visitors can use the Korea Rail Pass to travel on KTX trains.

How Many People Use KTX?

Average daily ridership, 2004 to 2013.

When KTX first started, people thought it would be one of the busiest high-speed lines in the world. They expected around 200,000 passengers a day. However, the actual number was much lower at first, about half of what was expected.

But KTX quickly became more popular! Ridership increased a lot in the first two years. By 2007, KTX started making a profit. In 2008, it was Korail's most profitable part of the business.

By April 2010, KTX trains had carried over 211 million passengers. They also became very punctual, with 98.3% of trains arriving within 5 minutes of schedule in 2009. The busiest day ever was January 26, 2009, when over 178,000 passengers rode KTX. By its tenth birthday, KTX had carried 414 million passengers!

KTX's Impact on Travel

Gyeongbu corridor

Honam corridor

How KTX changed travel on key routes

KTX changed how people traveled, especially on long trips like Seoul–Busan. KTX quickly became the most popular way to travel on these routes. It took many passengers away from airlines and regular trains.

Some smaller airports lost passengers because of KTX. For example, flights between Seoul and Busan saw a big drop in passengers. However, some budget airlines still tried to compete. When a new subway line opened in Seoul, it made it easier to get to Gimpo International Airport. This helped some airlines compete better with KTX.

Things to Improve on KTX

Infrastructure and Safety

Lawmakers raised concerns about the safety of KTX tunnels. Many tunnels built early on did not have enough emergency exits. This was because new fire safety rules were added later. A plan for fires in KTX tunnels was created in 2005.

There were also reports of cracks and track problems in some tunnels. Korail said these were not safety issues but promised to fix them.

Incidents and Accidents

Number of breakdowns and how often they happened each year.

At first, KTX trains had some problems, like issues with the trains themselves or the signaling system. But the number of problems decreased a lot over time.

In 2007, a KTX train hit the trackbed because of a loose screw. This caused some damage. Later that year, two KTX trains crashed inside Busan Station. This happened because the driver fell asleep.

On February 11, 2011, a KTX-Sancheon train derailed near Gwangmyeong Station. Luckily, only one person was slightly hurt. Investigations showed it was caused by human error. Workers had not properly fixed a switch on the tracks.

Other incidents included smoke coming from a train and a train stopping in a tunnel due to a motor problem. In 2018, a KTX train derailed near Gangneung, injuring 15 passengers. In 2022, another KTX-Sancheon train derailed in a tunnel, injuring 7 passengers. Investigations into these incidents help make KTX even safer.

Passenger Comfort

Early on, passengers complained about how hard it was to get to some KTX stations. For example, Gwangmyeong and Cheonan-Asan stations were not well connected to the subway. Later, improvements were made to connect these stations better.

Passengers also noticed loud noise and vibrations when trains went through tunnels. This is called the "tunnel effect." KTX-II trains were built with thicker windows and better sound insulation to help with this. The tracks are also welded together to reduce noise.

Some passengers felt dizzy in backward-facing seats. This is a type of motion sickness. The original KTX-I seats were also not designed perfectly for Korean passengers. Newer KTX trains have improved seats. They also have "swivel seats" in both classes. These seats can be turned to face the direction the train is going, which helps with comfort.

Overall, KTX trains are considered comfortable. Engineers continue to study "ride comfort" to make the passenger experience even better.

Images for kids

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  KTX train approaches Miryang station, on the non-high-speed Daegu-Busan section

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  Frequency of KTX services .(trains/week)

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  Differential fare reductions before and after the launch of KTX service.

See also

• Tilting Train Express
• Transport in South Korea
• Train to Busan, a horror film in which the KTX features heavily in the plot
• Saemaul-ho
• Mugunghwa-ho