The national operator Korail has received a feasibility approval for the purchase of 49 EMU-320 high-speed trains, manufactured in South Korea by Hyundai Rotem. The new trains will gradually replace the KTX-I trains, built using French TGV technology and put into service in 2004.
South Korea is preparing to conclude a process that began more than three decades ago with the adoption of French TGV technology.
The Ministry of Economy and Finance has approved the preliminary feasibility study for the purchase of 49 EMU-320 high-speed electric trains, intended for the national operator Korea Railroad Corporation – Korail.
The program is estimated to be worth approximately 3.3 billion USD. The first firm order, for 28 trainsets, is expected in 2027, and deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2032.
49 Trains to Replace the KTX-I Fleet
The new trains will gradually replace the 46 KTX-I trains, which have been the backbone of South Korea’s high-speed rail services since the network’s inauguration on April 1, 2004.
The KTX-I was developed based on the French TGV train. The first 12 trainsets were built in France by Alstom, while the rest were assembled in South Korea as part of a technology transfer agreement.
Each KTX-I train has 20 railcars, including two motor cars at each end, and can carry approximately 955 passengers at a maximum speed of 300 km/h.
The oldest trains will reach the end of their designed service life of 30 years starting in 2033.
Distributed traction and 1,000 seats
The EMU-320, marketed under the name KTX – CheongRyong – “The Blue Dragon”, uses a different architecture than that of the French-designed trains.
Instead of the two power cars at the ends of the train, the traction equipment is distributed across several railcars. This solution allows for faster acceleration, more efficient braking, and better utilization of the train’s length.
A train set will consist of 16 railcars, will be able to carry approximately 1,000 passengers, and will travel at speeds of up to 320 km/h.
Thus, the train will have 45 more seats than the KTX-I, even though it will consist of fewer railcars. This is a significant advantage on the South Korean network, where the distances between some stations are relatively short, and trains frequently accelerate and brake.
South Korean Train Control System
The 49 trainsets will be equipped with the Korean Train Control System Level 2 – KTCS-2, a train control system developed in South Korea and considered the technical equivalent of ETCS Level 2 used in Europe.
KTCS-2 uses the LTE-R railway radio network for continuous communication between trains and the control center. The system can track the trains’ position in real time, automatically control speed, and initiate emergency braking.
The technology entered commercial service on the Jeolla Line in October 2023. According to estimates cited in the project documentation, installing this system on the Gyeongbu high-speed line could increase the line’s capacity by approximately 20%.
Condition-Based Maintenance
The new fleet will also be equipped with a maintenance system based on continuous monitoring of component condition.
Sensors will transmit data on wear and operation, and maintenance interventions can be scheduled based on the actual condition of the equipment, rather than solely on a predetermined number of kilometers or operating hours.
The trains will also be equipped with a derailment detection system and a smart system to optimize energy consumption during the journey.
The first EMU-320s are already in service
The program is not starting from scratch. Two pre-production EMU-320 trains entered commercial service in May 2024 on the Gyeongbu and Honam high-speed lines.
In 2023, Korail ordered another 17 trainsets, and the operator Supreme Railways – SR ordered 14 units. The first trains in this series are undergoing testing and are scheduled to enter commercial service in 2027.
The 49 trains currently under development will be added to those already ordered and will allow for the gradual phasing out of the KTX-I trains in the first half of the 2030s.
Read also: South Korea Abandons Experiment with Two High-Speed Train Systems
From TGV Technology to Locally Developed Trains
South Korea has gradually transitioned from assembling trains under a French license to developing its own platforms.
The KTX-I was followed by the KTX-Sancheon trains, introduced in 2010, the experimental HEMU-430X prototype, and the EMU-260 and EMU-320 families.
In 2013, the HEMU-430X prototype reached a speed of 421.4 km/h, and the experience gained was used to develop the current production trains.
In September 2024, the EMU-320 obtained design certification in accordance with the European Union’s Technical Specifications for Interoperability, a milestone that allows the manufacturer Hyundai Rotem to pursue contracts in the European market as well.
Share on:
