Flames and Smoke Inside KTX Carrying 390 Passengers... Korail "Under Investigation"

Damage Minimized by Crew's Response
Proactive Passenger Transfer Measures Implemented

A spark incident occurred on the overhead shelf inside a KTX train carrying passengers, and Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL) is investigating the train involved.

According to KORAIL on the 16th, at around 3:25 PM on the 15th, a KTX Sancheon train car number 6, traveling near Daejeon after departing from Pohang, Gyeongbuk, emitted black smoke and red sparks from the upper part of the overhead shelf.

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The crew evacuated passengers to other compartments and used fire extinguishers to prevent further damage. At that time, about 390 passengers were on board. Although it could have led to a major accident, the crew's prompt response minimized the damage.

KORAIL conducted a vehicle inspection for about 10 minutes after stopping at Daejeon Station and had specialized staff board the train to continue to Osong Station for additional checks. The inspection found no operational issues, but KORAIL proactively arranged for passengers to transfer to a temporary train at Osong Station for safety. This caused delays of about 10 to 20 minutes for four other high-speed trains.

KORAIL confirmed that the sparks originated from a fluorescent lamp component inside the cover of the overhead shelf. The interior of the compartment is made of flame-retardant material, preventing the fire from spreading further. A KORAIL official stated, "It appears that there was a problem with the fluorescent lamp component inside the overhead shelf," and added, "The train is currently being brought into the depot for a precise investigation of the cause."