National Railroad Authority Introduces Next-Generation Railway Signal Equipment on Gyeongbu High-Speed Line

The National Railroad Authority announced on September 22 that it will begin the full-scale introduction of next-generation railway signal equipment, the "IP (Internet Protocol)-based Electronic Interlocking Device," at Gimcheon-Gumi Station and Gyeongju Station on the Gyeongbu High-Speed Line.

The IP-based electronic interlocking device was jointly developed by the National Railroad Authority and the domestic railway signal industry as a national research and development project from 2017 to 2020.

Typically, electronic interlocking devices interact with railway signal equipment such as signals and track switches to set train routes. Currently, these devices are installed at all stations and perform independent control functions.

In addition, the IP-based electronic interlocking device makes it possible to control, monitor, and maintain signal equipment at adjacent stations from a single station, dramatically improving operational efficiency.

Notably, it has been designed to be compatible with the Korean Train Control System-Level 2 (KTCS-2), which is scheduled for introduction on domestic high-speed railways. This enhances the safety of train operations in high-speed environments. KTCS-2 is a system that detects the location of preceding trains to ensure a safe distance between trains and prevent accidents.

The National Railroad Authority plans to complete the replacement of imported interlocking devices currently installed at Gimcheon-Gumi Station and Gyeongju Station, which were put in place during the second phase opening of the Gyeongbu High-Speed Railway, with IP-based electronic interlocking devices by December 2027.

The authority expects that, once the upgrade to IP-based electronic interlocking devices is completed, more than 57% of the costs can be saved compared to newly imported equipment.

Lee Seonghae, President of the National Railroad Authority, stated, "The introduction of IP-based electronic interlocking devices goes beyond a simple system replacement; it signifies the independence and enhanced competitiveness of domestic railway signal equipment. We will strive to ensure that next-generation railway signal equipment can also enter overseas railway markets."