The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) reported that 213,000 passengers used the high-speed rail on the first day of integration on September 1. This marks a 7.9% increase compared to the same day last year.
The total available seats increased by 6.3% to 253,000. On the Suseo line, which had previously faced severe seat shortages, 64,000 passengers traveled on September 1, an 11.3% increase from the previous year. The number of available seats on this line rose by 30.5% to 65,000, significantly improving booking conditions.
There were no accidents or disruptions reported on the first day of integrated operations. The Ministry and KORAIL are committed to ensuring safety during the initial phase by operating a 24-hour emergency response team and deploying safety experts on-site.
To minimize confusion caused by changes in train schedules and types, KORAIL has increased the number of staff at major stations and enhanced guidance and notifications through the integrated app.
Kim Tae-byeong, Director of the Railway Bureau at the Ministry, stated, “We will continue to prioritize safety and closely monitor operations to ensure that the benefits of high-speed rail integration are felt by the public. With the upcoming Chuseok holiday, we will ensure that citizens can use the high-speed rail safely and conveniently.”
Lee Min-seong, head of KORAIL's passenger business division, advised, “As trains previously operated as SRT are now integrated into KTX-Sancheon, it may be difficult for passengers to distinguish destinations by train type. We urge passengers to check the train number and destination before boarding. Starting September 3, tickets for the holiday period will be available for members only, so we encourage passengers to complete their transition to KORAIL integrated membership in advance.”
* This article has been translated by AI.
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