KTX From Suseo, SRT From Seoul... Pilot Cross-Operation Starts on the 25th

Implementing the "High-Speed Rail Integration Roadmap"

An SRT train serving Suseo Station stopped after arriving at Seoul Station on the 3rd. On that day, KORAIL and SR carried out a test run ahead of the pilot cross-operation scheduled for the 25th, in which the Korea Train Express (KTX) will depart from Suseo Station and the Super Rapid Train (SRT) will depart from Seoul Station. Photo by Yonhap News

Starting on the 25th, a pilot cross-operation will begin in which the Korea Train Express (KTX) will depart from Suseo Station and the Super Rapid Train (SRT) will depart from Seoul Station. Since the launch of the SRT in 2016, this will be the first time in roughly 10 years of a dual high-speed rail system that trains will run from each other's departure stations.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail), and SR Corporation announced on the 24th that, in line with the "High-Speed Rail Integration Roadmap" released in December last year, they will implement the pilot KTX-SRT cross-operation starting that day. The KTX will operate one round trip per day from Suseo Station to Busan Station, and the SRT will operate one round trip per day from Seoul Station to Busan Station.

Until now, only the 10-car, 410-seat SRT has operated out of Suseo Station, leading to intense competition for reservations. With the introduction of the 20-car KTX-1, which has 955 seats, the number of available seats will more than double.

Fares for SRT services departing from Seoul Station are on average 10% lower than existing KTX services departing from Seoul. Fares for KTX services departing from Suseo Station will be set at the same level as existing SRT services departing from Suseo. However, because KTX services departing from Suseo are cheaper than KTX services departing from Seoul, mileage points will not be accrued on Suseo-departing KTX tickets.

From the 25th to March 3, Korail and SR will each select 100 passengers who use the cross-operation trains and provide them with a 10% discount coupon.

Tickets for the pilot cross-operation have been available for reservation since the 11th via each company's mobile application, website, and station ticket counters. KTX services departing from Suseo must be booked through the Korail Talk app, and SRT services departing from Seoul must be booked through the SRT app. At station ticket counters, tickets can be purchased without distinguishing between the two train services.

During the first week of the pilot operation, staff from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, Korail, and SR will board the trains to directly inspect safety and operating conditions. Additional personnel from both companies will also be deployed at stations to minimize passenger confusion.

Based on the results of this pilot operation, the government plans to establish an integrated train operation plan for the second half of this year. It will also gradually promote unified services, including integrating the reservation and ticketing systems and adjusting fare and mileage schemes. The goal is to complete institutional integration by the end of this year.

Hong Jiseon, Second Vice Minister of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, said, "We will deliver changes that the public can truly feel by expanding seat availability and improving services."