SRT to Reduce Weekend Reserved Seats by 7% for Two Months Due to "Safety Maintenance Impact"

Reduction of Trains on Gyeongbu and Honam Lines
Weekday Seat Supply Maintained

The Suseo High-Speed Railway (SRT) trains operating on weekends will reduce their service by about 7% compared to usual for the next two months.

According to the railway industry on the 26th, SR, the operator of SRT, will cut weekend (Friday to Sunday) seat supply from 179,170 seats to 166,870 seats, a reduction of 12,300 seats (6.9%), from the 27th until the end of February next year.

Suseo High-Speed Railway (SRT). Provided by SRT

During this period, the number of double-coupled trains?where two trains are linked and operated as one?will decrease from 41 times (38 on the Gyeongbu Line, 3 on the Honam Line) to 14 times (13 on the Gyeongbu Line, 1 on the Honam Line) on weekends. This reduction corresponds to 11,070 fewer seats.

Additionally, instead of operating combined trains on the Gyeongjeon and Gyeongbu Lines?where two trains with different destinations are linked?only Gyeongjeon Line trains will be deployed, reducing supply by 1,230 seats.

However, the 200,900 seats supplied on weekdays (Monday to Thursday) will remain unchanged.

SR explained that this weekend service reduction is due to an increase in the number of trains undergoing maintenance for customer safety. Since the opening of the Donghae Line, Gyeongjeon Line, and Jeolla Line in September last year, SRT operations have increased while maintenance has decreased, leading to somewhat more frequent breakdowns. There are a total of 32 SRT trains, with 23 operating on weekdays and 28 on weekends. The remaining trains not in operation are maintained by Korea Railroad Corporation (KORAIL).

An SR official stated, "Although this adjustment will reduce seat supply and may cause inconvenience to passengers, it is an essential measure for safe train operation," adding, "This decision prioritizes customer safety to prevent more serious accidents."

To fundamentally expand seat supply, SR placed an order for 14 SRT trains (EMU-320) in April last year, which are scheduled to be introduced gradually starting in 2027. Additionally, SR is promoting the construction of its own train maintenance base (Pyeongtaek Jije Train Depot) in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, aiming for completion in 2031.