KTX to be expanded by 2014

The government announced on Sept. 1st a strategic plan to extend the KTX high speed rail service to more than 80 percent of the country by 2020.

The government presented the future plan for KTX expansion at a meeting attended by members of the Presidential Council on National Competitiveness, the Presidential Committee on Green Growth, the Presidential Council for Future and Vision, and the Presidential Committee on Regional Development.

According to the plan, the Gyeongbu express linking Daegu and Busan will open this Nov., with a Daejeon-Daegu route to follow in 2014.

The Honam line between Osong-Gwangju will open in 2014, followed by a Gwangju-Mokpo route in 2017, and a Gangnam, Suseo and Pyeongtaek line in 2014.

New KTX rail will also connect Pohang, Masan, Jeonju and Suncheon, located between Gyeongbu and Honam KTX lines. Service to Incheon International Airport will be available by 2012.

Both existing rail routes and those under construction will be straightened to increase the maximum sped of the trains to 230 kilometers per hour, while the maximum speed along the Wonju-Gangneung line and Wonju-Gyoengju line will increase to 240 kilometers per hour.  This is expected to reduce travel time along most routes, including the Seoul-Busan line.

The President(first from left) attends a meeting held at Korea Railroad Research Institute in Uiwang, Gyeonggi-do on Sep. 1.

Once the new plans are complete, 82 percent of the country should have access to high speed rail, up from the current level of 30 percent, defined as the ability to travel to most parts of the country within 90 minutes. By the time the project is complete, 95 percent of the whole country will be accessible from any other location within two hours.

Additionally, more express bus lanes and subway lines will be built in major cities, as the new strategic plans propose connecting the Great Train Express (GTX), railway networks and KTX.

"In this era of global competition for high-speed railway technology, I hope Korea can become an important source of railway technology," the President said at the meeting.
 source:Presidents office Korea