Railway Corporation Begins Development of Next-Generation 'K-Train Control System'

A panoramic photo of the Korea Rail Network Authority building (right) and Korea Railroad Corporation building (left) located in Dong-gu, Daejeon. Provided by the Korea Rail Network Authority.

[Asia Economy (Daejeon) Reporter Jeong Il-woong] The Korea Rail Network Authority is embarking on the development of the next-generation Korean Train Control System (Train Control System).

The Rail Network Authority announced on the 21st that it held a research成果 report meeting on the next-generation Korean Train Control System jointly with Korea Railroad Corporation, Korea Railroad Research Institute, Hyundai Rotem, and others.

The train control system detects the train's operating position and secures the interval between trains to prevent accidents between trains and maintain safe operation.

In particular, the ‘Korean Train Control System’ being developed by the Rail Network Authority and others is a system that controls trains via a wireless communication network without using ground equipment such as track circuits that detect trains, and is evaluated as a technology one step ahead of European train control systems.

At the report meeting, the Rail Network Authority shared the core technology development details such as the newly developed onboard signal control device and discussed the master plan for the development and practical application of the Korean Train Control System.

The Rail Network Authority explained that once the system is introduced, automatic acceleration/deceleration and precise stopping without driver operation will be possible, improving train operation efficiency by shortening train intervals and increasing the number of operations.

Kim Sang-gyun, Director of the Rail Network Authority, said, “With the development of the Korean Train Control System, we will be able to strengthen railway technology competitiveness by leading railway signal system technology in the 4th industrial revolution,” adding, “Through this, the Rail Network Authority will expand its footprint in overseas railway markets and enable the public to use railway services quickly and safely.”